Boom! Celtics Erase Deficit To Roll To 5-0

PORTLAND, ME – The Maine Celtics, presented by Unum, came back from a nine-point deficit in the final six minutes to defeat the Capital City Go-Go, 105-103, and remain undefeated. 

Maine (5-0) was led by Luka Šamanić with 24 points, 16 rebounds and three assists. Mfiondu Kabengele totaled 21 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and seven blocks. JD Davison finished with 20 points and four assists and Scottie Lindsey posted 18 points and three rebounds on 7-8 shooting off the bench. 

Vernon Carey Jr. led Capital City (4-2) with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Johnny Davis added 18 points, four rebounds and five assists. Kris Dunn put up 13 points, six rebounds and five assists as a reserve. 

Šamanić corralled an offensive rebound and flipped it in for the game’s first points, and Davison found him cutting down the lane in semi-transition the next trip down. A 7-2 run from Capital City put them in front early, 7-6, with both teams playing a physical brand of basketball, crashing the glass and battling on the interior. It was an even contest to start, going into the first timeout tied 10-10 as both teams continued to work the ball inside and wear each other down in the halfcourt. After one, the Celtics led 28-26. 

Šamanić and Kabengele’s interior offense was working as the second quarter got going, helping the Celtics maintain their lead until Carey heated up for the Go-Go. He would tally 13 points and nine rebounds before the half ended, and any Celtic not named Lindsey struggled to make shots of their own. Lindsey threw it down in transition to bring Maine within one and give himself 18 first-half points on 7-8 shooting before Šamanić’s tip-in in the closing seconds put the Celtics ahead, 50-49 heading into the locker room. 

Davison nailed a three to open the half and start a 6-0 solo run that helped the Celtics open a 68-59 lead by the midway point of the quarter. Capital City responded with a 7-0 run spearheaded by Carey and Davis to erase the deficit and get back within two. The game was tied at 70 for a few trips until Šamanić canned an above-the-break triple. The Go-Go continued to pound the ball inside, attacking the paint and drawing fouls to help themselves to another run, this time 9-0. Šamanić hit his third three to end the run, but the rest of the Celtics squad was ice cold for most of the night. Capital City went into the fourth, leading 83-78. 

Capital City went ahead by as much as nine with six minutes remaining, but the Celtics weren’t done yet. Davison sank a corner three off a Lindsey steal to get within two, 96-94 before Šamanić hit one from the corner himself to put Maine ahead. Kabengele joined the three party, too, and at that point the Celtics offense was rolling too fast to be stopped. Davis briefly put the Go-Go back ahead with a quick-trigger three, but Šamanić backed down Todd on the left block and got it right back. The Celtics were a bit shaky from the line in the final minute, making just one of four free throws, but lockdown defense carried them to the win, 105-103. 

The Maine Celtics are back in action tomorrow at the Expo to complete a back-to-back against Capital City. The Celtics will then host the Delaware Blue Coats on Sunday before heading out on a six-game road trip. Tickets for both games are on sale now by visiting MaineCeltics.com.