Celtics Take Down Raptors 905

MISSISSAUGA, ON – Powered by efficient shooting nights from Drew Peterson and DJ Steward, the Maine Celtics staved off a late-game surge by the Raptors 905 to earn a 111-103 win. 

Peterson paced Maine (7-7) with 25 points, eight rebounds and three assists, shooting 10-17 from the field and 4-7 from downtown. Steward added 26 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three blocks, shooting 9-15 with a pair of made threes. Brandon Slater turned in 16 points, five rebounds and three assists and Jordan Walsh notched 10 points and seven rebounds. Jordan Bowden tallied 12 points, five rebounds, a block and two steals. 

Justise Winslow led the 905 (5-9) with 31 points and 10 rebounds. Kobi Simmons had 15 points and six rebounds, while Javon Freeman-Liberty and Kevin Obanor both scored 11 points. Mouhamdou Gueye logged 10 points. 

A floater from Peterson and a 15-footer from Steward got Maine started while Gueye finished a pair inside for the 905. The Raptors pushed the pace early, and the Celtics ramped it up to match the tempo as Peterson and Steward combined for all of Maine’s first 10 points. A 5-0 run from the Celtics edged them in front before a neck-and-neck end to the first. Neither team was able to build a lead larger than two possessions, and at the end of a closely contested quarter, the 905 emerged with a 23-21 lead after Obanor flipped one in from the left block just ahead of the horn. 

Walsh drove down the left side of the lane to tie it at 23 for Maine, though Kira Lewis Jr. and former Celtic Jaysean Paige both nailed a three to go up six. The Celtics caught fire not long after that – a 19-5 run helped them retake the lead and extend it to as many as 14 points, with Walsh, Peterson, and Bowden each contributing seven in the second. Overall, the quarter favored the Celtics, but after Maine’s run to open the frame built to 27-13, the Raptors closed the half on a 14-6 run with eight coming from Winslow to trim the deficit to four, 54-50, heading into the locker room. 

Light scoring as the third began gave way to another hot streak from beyond the arc for the Celtics. Carey knocked down a pair in short order as Maine finished with four made 3-pointers in the third while the 905 went 0-9, dragging their overall mark down to 4-24 from deep through three quarters. Steward drove and hit from the middle of the paint in the closing seconds to push Maine’s advantage to 81-68 with 12 minutes to play. The Celtics held the Raptors to just 18 points in the third. 

Tony Snell scored a quick five for Maine to open the fourth. The Raptors put up eight in the first three minutes and change to pull within 10, 86-76, triggering a timeout from Celtics head coach Blaine Mueller. Simmons hit a jumper to make it a six-point game as part of an 11-3 run for the 905, then Steward, Slater, Peterson, and Bowden knocked down threes on four-straight trips, flipping the momentum back to Maine and giving them a 101-88 lead as crunch time set in. Walsh split a pair at the line to put the Celtics up 11 with 1:58 to go. Over the following 35 seconds, Simmons cashed in three-straight threes, the first with a contest off a jab-step and the latter two being transition pull-ups, ripping off a solo 9-0 run to make it a two-point game. 

Now 104-102 with 1:08 left and the 905 in possession, Banks stayed vertical contesting Winslow’s layup to help Maine earn a crucial stop and rebound, leading to a foul and two free throws for Steward. After the Raptors called a reset timeout, Walsh stole the ensuing inbounds pass, Bowden collected the loose ball and dished to Steward, who went to the line and sank another pair of clutch free throws to seal the deal for the Celtics. 

The Celtics and Raptors complete a back-to-back set tomorrow evening at 7:30 PM EST in Mississauga. Maine then returns home for a Friday, Feb. 2 matchup with the Grand Rapids Gold.