Celtics Set Records In 49-Point Rout

MAINE DOMINATES DELAWARE In 49-point ROUT

Maine Makes 26 Threes In 149-100 Victory; Improves To 6-1

PORTLAND, ME – The Maine Celtics, presented by Unum, ran away with it after a tight first quarter to set a franchise record in margin of victory and tie the franchise’s record with 26 three-pointers made in a game as they defeated the Delaware Blue Coats, 149-100. 

Maine’s previous record for margin of victory was 38 points, set on Feb. 10, 2020, at Windy City. The team also tied the franchise’s high mark of 26 three-pointers in a game, which was set against Westchester on Jan. 22, 2022. Lindsey surpassed his previous G League career-high of 26 points in the first half, finishing with 32 points. The franchise record for points scored in a game is 155, set on Nov. 27, 2019, on the road against Greensboro. Maine set the franchise record for points scored at the Portland Expo with 149.  

Lindsey led Maine (6-1) with 32 points on 11-18 shooting (7-10 3P) to go with five rebounds and three assists in 20 minutes played. Two-Way player JD Davison had 20 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals. Luka Šamanić followed up with 13 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, giving him his sixth double-double in seven appearances. Marial Shayok totaled 12 points, three rebounds and five assists and Two-Way player Mfiondu Kabengele notched 12 points, nine rebounds and a block. Kendall Smith tallied 12 points and four assists. A.J. Reeves had 11 points and four boards. Marvin Smith Jr. registered 10 points and five rebounds. Denzel Valentine logged seven points, 13 rebounds and six assists. Eric Demers recorded nine points, two rebounds and two assists. 

Mac McClung posted 30 points for Delaware (2-4). Aminu Mohammed had 12 points and seven rebounds and Skylar Mays put up 11 points. Patrick McCaw finished with 10 points and seven rebounds. 

Šamanić’s tip-in and a reverse finish from Michael Foster Jr. got the Sunday matinee at the Expo started. Valentine and Davison each hit from deep, and Kabengele stuffed in a putback to help Maine jump out to a quick 10-2 lead, though Delaware would respond with an 11-2 run to get in front. A review for a flagrant foul paused the game with the Blue Coats ahead, 21-18, but a backcourt steal from Kendall Smith and a couple of easy looks from Lindsey put Maine back in the driver’s seat for the remainder of the afternoon. Maine led, 32-27 after one with the help of 13 points from Lindsey. 

The Celtics turned this one into a barnburner in a scintillating second quarter, making 11 of the team’s first 13 field goals and going on a 26-2 run to open the frame. Lindsey kept it rolling through the second, adding 14 more points to give himself a new G League career-high of 27 points before the first half even ended. On top of Lindsey’s hot shooting, Davison reached double-figures in the first 24 minutes and Valentine was working towards a triple-double with five points, 10 boards and four assists. Maine coasted into the locker room up, 79-55 after a Euro-step finish in transition from McClung. 

Maine began the second half began where they left off in the first, going on an 18-8 run to open the third. Maine’s starters checked out of the game for the final time early in the third, making way for the reserves to play big minutes down the stretch. Kissoonlal recorded his first career bucket at the Expo and tallied three blocked shots in the quarter while rookie Roxbury native Reeves checked in for his professional debut, making his first three as a Celtic moments later. The third quarter ended with Maine ahead, 117-74. 

Reeves torched the Blue Coats defense in his debut, racking up 11 points in 14 minutes as he, Eric Demers and Kendall Smith rained threes on the Blue Coats in the fourth quarter to help Maine tie the franchise record for three-pointers made in a game. The Celtics led by 50 points throughout the final frame as they coasted to victory, collecting a 149-100 win over Delaware. 

The Maine Celtics will head out on a six-game road trip beginning in Delaware on Sunday and ending in in Mississauga, Ontario on Dec. 9.