Maine Faces Long Island in Final Game Before All-Star Break

PORTLAND, Maine. - The Maine Celtics will look to build on their league-leading winning streak when they host the Long Island Nets on Thursday night.

Maine (12-9) has won six consecutive games after most recently beating the Memphis Hustle 127-115 on Monday on the road. Maine had three players score 20 points or more, led by 32 points, 13 assists, and 8 rebounds by JD Davison. Jordan Schakel posted his best scoring performance in a Maine Celtics uniform with 26 points and Drew Peterson added 22 points, 9 assists, and 6 rebounds. Both Schakel and Peterson buried five shots from deep in the game.

This will be the final Celtics game before the NBA All-Star Break, which will feature Two-Way Player JD Davison in the 2025 Castrol Rising Stars Challenge. Davison has posted 30+ points and 10+ rebounds in four games this season and boasts nine double-doubles.

Maine returns home after a brief, two-game road trip. The Celtics overcame Windy City 102-98 on February 8 in overtime. Maine is now 2-5 in overtime games this season. The Celtics then defeated the Hustle 127-115 on Monday. The Celtics are currently 7th in the Eastern Conference standings and Long Island is 13th.

The Celtics previously faced Long Island on January 19, falling to the Nets 109-91 at the Portland Expo. Long Island finished the game shooting 48.9% from the floor and 11 of 30 (36.7%) from deep. Killian Hayes packed the stat sheet for Long Island with 25 points, 8 assists, and five steals. Kendall Brown led all scorers with 26 points to go with 6 rebounds. Drew Timme and Trevon Scott each finished with 10 points. Overall, Maine is 1-2 against the Nets this season.

The Nets come to Portland after dismantling Windy City 111-85 on Tuesday behind a 23 point, 15 rebound, 10 assist triple-double by Timme. Six players scored in double figures for Long Island, with assignment player Dariq Whitehead adding 20 points. Whitehead was later recalled by the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday.

Maine will look to keep Long Island away from the free throw line on Thursday, as the Nets are top-10 in the G League in free throw makes and attempts, averaging over 11 made free throw shots per game. Both teams are top-5 in the G League in turnovers, each averaging under 15 turnovers per contest. In their last meeting, Long Island forced 20 Celtics turnovers thanks large in part to the defensive efforts of Killian Hayes. Hayes is currently averaging nearly three steals per game and the Nets snag nine steals per game.

The Celtics have been one of the best teams in the G League in creating second chance opportunities. Maine is sixth in offensive rebounding with over 13 rebounds a game. The Celtics are also top-10 in three point shots made and attempted, averaging 42 attempts per game.

Thursday's game will be important as Maine looks to climb up the Eastern Conference standings. The battle with the Nets will be Maine's final home game before the team hits the road for nine consecutive away games. Maine will have just two home games left on the schedule, starting with the Osceola Magic coming to town on March 20.

WHERE TO WATCH: Thursday's game will tip-off at the Portland Expo at 7 p.m. Tickets are available here. The game will broadcast live on NBC Sports Boston and ESPN+. The Celtics will be wearing their Black History Month Uniforms against the Nets.