Maine takes on Long Island in home opener

PORTLAND, Maine - The Maine Celtics return to the Portland Expo on Friday night for a tough test against the Long Island Nets in the Celtics home opener.

Maine has started the year with an 0-3 record for the first time since the 2011-2012 season. The Celtics came up short by just four combined points in two games against the Greensboro Swarm. On Wednesday, the Celtics ended their three-game road trip with 111-75 loss to Raptors 905. Friday's game against the Nets is part of the NBA G League Tip-Off Tournament. The Celtics (0-3) are currently in eighth place in the East division. Long Island (1-1) sits in fifth ahead of two games at the Expo.

Maine is expected to have all of their Two-Way players available on Friday after Ron Harper Jr. was transferred back to Maine on Thursday. Harper Jr. has been on terror to start the season. In two games at Greensboro, Harper Jr. is averaging 28.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game. The Two-Way guard missed Wednesday's game while with Boston where Harper Jr. scored six points and blocked one shot against the Memphis Grizzlies. Harper Jr. played 14 games with Maine last season, and can't wait to be back in front of fans at the Expo this weekend.

Friday will also be the first time Maine Celtics fans get a chance to see Two-Way players Max Shulga and Amari Williams. Williams was drafted by Boston with the 46th overall pick of the 2025 NBA draft and Shulga was taken 57th overall. Williams, a former standout at Kentucky, is averaging 16.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.0 steals and 2.7 blocks in three games with Maine. Williams has been a force in the paint, shooting 80% from the floor. Shulga has been the primary ball handler for Maine and the Two-Way guard has averaged 9.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 1.0 steals per game. Jalen Bridges and Kendall Brown are also averaging double-digits at 13.7 and 14.0 points per game for Maine.

Long Island travels to Maine after splitting a pair of games with the Capital City Go-Go. Long Island is the G League affiliate of the Brooklyn Nets. Long Island has two, Two-Way players in Tyson Etienne and E.J. Liddell. Neither Two-Way player has been with Long Island in the team's first two games, but Nolan Traore and Ben Saraf have played two games with the Nets on assignment. In the Nets' season opening win, Saraf led Long Island with 21 points off the bench. In doing so, Saraf became the first Long Island player to score at least 20 points off the bench in their NBA G League debut. 

Maine has three returners on the roster that Celtics fans will remember this season. In addition to Harper Jr., Hason Ward and Kameron Warrens are back after helping Maine reach the G League Eastern Conference Finals one year ago. Another familiar face from 2024-25 will be back at the Expo, Jay Scrubb, but in a Long Island uniform. Scrubb was traded in October on the day of the NBA G League Draft in exchange for the returning player rights to Oshae Brissett. Scrubb played in 40 games for Maine last season, averaging 14.1 points 3.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.

Tip-Off is set for 7 p.m. at the Expo on Friday night. The game will stream live here and air on NBC Sports Boston. It can also be listed to on the radio on 96.3 The Big Jab. Maine will face Long Island again at 7 p.m. on Saturday night. Tickets are available here.