Current, former Maine Celtics fill Boston's starting lineup

PHOENIX, Ariz. - On Tuesday night the Boston Celtics beat the Phoenix Suns 97-81 to improve to 38-19 this season and remain in second place in the Eastern Conference standings. What stood out was Maine's presence in the Celtics starting lineup.

Four of the five Celtics starters on Tuesday had played for the Maine Celtics, and all five players had experience playing in the NBA G League. Boston's starters against the Suns were Derrick White, Ron Harper Jr., Baylor Scheierman, Sam Hauser, and Neemias Queta.

Tuesday was Harper's second start and 13th game played for the Celtics this season. Against the Suns, the Two-Way player had eight points, five rebounds, one assist, one block, and one steal in 30 minutes of action. Harper has been one of the most prolific scorers in the G League this season, averaging 25.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 18 games for Maine.

Scheierman played in 25 games for the Maine Celtics while on assignment during the 2024-25 season. During his rookie campaign, the 2024 first round draft pick averaged 19.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.2 steals per game in the G League. Scheierman has started 11 games for Boston this season, and is averaging 4.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 15.2 minutes per game.

Hauser and Queta are both former Two-Way players in Maine. Hauser's deal was converted to a standard NBA contract in February 2022 after the Virginia product lit up the G League shooting 41.7% from three and averaging 18.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Queta joined the Celtics on a Two-Way contract in September 2023 after he spent two seasons in Sacramento. Queta helped lead Maine to the NBA G League Finals in 2024, when he averaged 13.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game. In April 2024, Queta signed a standard NBA contract with Boston. On Tuesday, Queta set the tone with a game-high 13 rebounds, including six on the offensive end. He added 14 points, three assists and two blocks, finishing with a game-best plus-29 in 27 minutes – nearly a rebound for every two minutes he was on the floor.

Derrick White played for the Austin Spurs during the 2017-18 season. White played 24 games for the Spurs, where he averaged 20.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game.

John Tonje made his NBA debut in Tuesday's victory. Currently on a 10-Day contract, Tonje logged 3:56 seconds and missed his lone shot from beyond the arc. Tonje wasacquired by the Celtics in a trade with the Utah Jazz, and signed a Two-Way contract with Boston before recently earning a 10-Day contract.

The Maine Celtics return to action tonight against the Long Island Nets at 7 p.m. The game will broadcast live on NBAGLeague.com.