Maine Celtics Fall to Magic in Overtime Duel

Portland, ME – The Maine Celtics went to overtime for the 6^th time this season, and this time fell to the Osceola Magic, 108-106.

In the NBA G League, overtime is played to a Final Target Score – the first team to seven points wins the game. The Celtics are 1-5 in OT games this season, all at the Portland Expo. Maine (6-9) led by as many as 13 points, and were up 11 going into the 4^th quarter. The 4^th and OT turned into Drew Peterson and DJ Rodman vs. Mac McClung and Javonte Smart. Peterson finished with 26 points on 8-12 from three-point range, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists, while Rodman added a career-high 20 points and 12 rebounds. JD Davison added 19 points and 8 assists in the loss.

Osceola (4-6) was led by McClung, who scored 16 of his 29 points in the 4^th quarter and OT. Smart scored 16 of his 19 points in the 4^th quarter.

Maine opened the game shooting a lot of three-pointers and making 4 of their first 9 shots. Meanwhile, the Magic forced the ball inside – Colin Castleton scored six quick points in the 1^st, and Osceola took a 19-14 lead. Jordan Schakel drained a three to stop the run and get the Celtics within two points. Tristan Enaruna got active late in the period, getting to the free throw line twice. Maine trailed 22-21 after the 1^st quarter despite shooting just 6-21 from the floor.

In the 2^nd, Scrubb started the scoring with a pull-up jumper to give the Celtics the lead. Osceola would start to click on offense – Patrick Gardner buried a three to put the Magic up 33-26. Peterson answered with a three of his own. Schakel knocked in a second three, followed by a Davison dunk off a steal, and Maine had tied the game at 37. The Magic scored eight straight after that, but the Celtics would respond with a Peterson three and Rodman lay-up off of a steal. Davison knocked in a three late in the quarter, and a lay-up in the final seconds tied that game at 47-47 going into the break. Maine shot 11-32 (34.4%) from three in the first half, while Osceola went just 3-15 (20%).

Neither team started the 3^rd quarter shooting the ball well – Maine struggled to score in the opening four minutes, and Alex Morales gave Osceola a 53-52 lead. Davison stopped that with a three of his own. Peterson buried five straight points to tie the game at 60. Rodman buried a straight-on three to give the Celtics the lead. Peterson buried another three to extend the run to 10-0, and Davison’s lob to Watson put the Celtics up 70-60. Osceola went 4:00 without scoring a point, with Peterson hitting another three to put Maine up 13. The Celtics went 6-11 from three in the quarter, taking a 75-64 lead after three.

In the 4^th, Osceola came out hot, nailing back-to-back threes to cut the deficit to five. The Magic opened the period on an 11-2 run – Gardner’s three made it a 77-75 game with 7:48 to go. Javonte Smart’s jumper made it 81-80 Maine. The Celtics stopped the run with back-to-back triples from Rodman and Watson. Mac McClung drained a three to make it 90-87. Rodman stayed red-hot, draining another triple. McClung answered with a three. Hason Ward was left alone for the jam, and Maine was up 95-90 with 1:30 to go. McClung’s three-point play cut it to three points. McClung then buried a three to tie the game at 95. Smart tied it up late and the game went to overtime tied at 100.

In the extra period, Peterson buried a three to start the scoring. Thompson buried a three to tie it at 103. Davison hit a tough floater to put Maine back up two. McClung hit a three to put Osceola up 106-105. After a Maine turnover, McClung drove to the basket and scored, ending the game.

Maine finished with a season-high 23 made threes (23-54), shooting 42.6% from beyond the arc. Osceola shot 32.6% (14-43) from downtown, and out-rebounded Maine 60-52.

The Celtics return to action with three home games this week, starting Wednesday night vs. Iowa. Tickets can be purchased by visiting MaineCeltics.com.