Celtics erase 20-point deficit to win 5th straight

Oshkosh, WI - Down 20 with 7:36 left in the 3^rd quarter, the Maine Celtics out-scored the Wisconsin Herd 53-25 in the final 19+ minutes, snatching a 114-106 win. The Celtics have now won five consecutive games.

Maine (6-4) was led by Kendall Brown with 25 points and 6 rebounds. Jalen Bridges added 22 points including 6-12 from three-point range. Tosan Evbuomwan, who joined the team today, contributed 21 points in his Maine Celtics debut. The Celtics have erased 15+ point deficits to win in consecutive games.

Wisconsin (4-6) was led by Cormac Ryan with 25 points. Stephen Thompson Jr. added a 22 point-10 rebound double-double, and NBA veteran Victor Oladipo scored 18 points in the loss.

The Herd opened the game with back-to-back threes from Cameron Martin and Cormac Ryan. Brown stopped the run by knocking down a three of his own. Evbuomwan scored plus the foul for his first points with Maine, and Bridges knocked in a three to put the Celtics up 11-10 and force an early timeout by the Herd. The two teams would seemingly trade more turnovers than buckets in the 1^st quarter, with Hason Ward picking up three fouls early, Hayden Gray made a fast-break lay-up, but Ryan’s three-point play the other way put Wisconsin up five. The Herd led 26-21 after one.

In the 2^nd, Brown knocked down a three to cut the deficit to two. Stef Todorovic knocked down three straight three-pointers to put Maine on top for the first time in the game. John Butler Jr. followed that up with five straight points of his own as the shot-making improved for both teams. Bridges buried a three from the right wing, but Stephen Thompson Jr. had the answer for Wisconsin. Bridges knocked in another three to tie the game at 53. Wisconsin took a 61-56 lead into the break. Maine shot 44.7% (21-47) from the field and an impressive 45.8% (11-24) from three-point range in the half, with Bridges leading the way with 16 points. Wisconsin shot an astounding 59% (23-39) from the floor and 46.2% (6-13) from downtown in the first half.

Wisconsin started the 3^rd right where the left off knocking in two straight shots. Ryan’s bucket gave him 20 points on the night, but Bridges answered with his 5^th three of the night. Thompson Jr. knocked in yet another three to put the Herd up 10, and Butler Jr.’s dunk made it 71-59 Wisconsin early. Wisconsin started the period on a 13-3 run, and a flagrant-one on Bridges resulted in five points – three on the free throw, and two on the ensuing possession – and the Herd’s lead swelled to 81-61. Brown made five straight to get the Celtics to within 14. Bridges’ triple cut it to 11. Aaron Scott’s corner three made it single digits, and a 20-point deficit was just six heading into the 4^th – Maine trailed 91-85 after 3.

In the 4^th, Maine got as close as two points early. Ryan knocked in yet another shot to put the Herd up 100-95, but Gray hit a corner three to cut it to two about halfway through the quarter. A one point game with 3:20 to go, Evbuomwan scored to put Maine up 104-103. Up two with 1:31 to go, Off a turnover, Brown drove and scored to put Maine up four. Ebvuomwan was fouled shooting a three with :32.9 to go, and he made two free throws. Evbuomwan’s lay-up late put it away.

Maine finished the game shooting 47.6% (40-84) from the field, 44.4% (16-36) from three-point range, and 10-15 from the free throw line. Wisconsin finished shooting 50.6% (39-77) from the floor, 44.4% (12-27) from beyond the arc, and 8-9 from the charity stripe.

The Celtics and Herd will meet up again on Friday night in Oshkosh. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET and the game will be streamed live on NBAGLeague.com.