Game Preview: Maine marches in to Grand Rapids
Spencer Martin /March 4, 2025
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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Maine Celtics resume their long road trip when they march in to Grand Rapids on Tuesday morning.
Maine (15-10) enters Tuesday's game as winners of their last nine out of ten games. The Celtics hope March will treat them as well as February, where Maine went 7-1. Maine is currently fourth in the Eastern Conference standings and sits one game back of first place. The Grand Rapids Gold (11-13) are 11th in the Eastern Conference.
The Celtics have not played since February 25th, when Maine defeated the Motor City Cruise 107-104 after Drew Peterson knocked down a game-winning three-pointer in the final seconds. Peterson led the Celtics with 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists on a night where Maine used a balanced attack to grind out a victory over the Cruise. Six Celtics players scored in double figures, with four of those coming off the bench to outscore Motor City's reserves 58-29.
During that eight-game stretch in the month of February, Maine ranked third in total rebounding, averaging 51.0 boards per game. They are third in offensive rebounding (15.0 RPG) and fourth in defensive rebounding (36.0 RPG). Maine has also turned those rebounds into points, with the Celtics ranking second in the G League in second chance points with 19.5 per game. Combining the Tip-Off Tournament and Regular Season, the Maine Celtics are 14-3 when they outrebound their opponents.
Grand Rapids last played on February 28, where the Gold defeated the Cleveland Charge 123-115. Two-way player Trey Alexander led the Gold with 29 points, five assists, two rebounds, and two steals. Alexander is second in the NBA G League in scoring during the Regular Season, averaging 26.4 points to go with 5.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game. Maine Celtics guard JD Davison is 7th in scoring at 24.1 PPG.
The Celtics and Gold will tip-off at 11 a.m. at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The game will broadcast live on ESPN+. Including Tuesday, Maine has six more games on the road before they return home to the Portland Expo on March 20 against the Osceola Magic.
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