PORTLAND – Maine survived a furious fourth quarter comeback from Indiana to win 129-122 on Sunday afternoon. After trailing by 30 points, Indiana cut the deficit to just four late in the fourth quarter.
The Celtics hit 18 three pointers at a 41.9 percent success rate. They shot 51.2 percent from the field compared to Indiana’s 53.6 percent.
FIRST QUARTER
The game was even at 27 after one quarter, with Mad Ant Kyle Mangas scoring 11 points, shooting a perfect 4-of-4 from the field. However, Maine hit five first quarter three pointers to keep things even.
SECOND QUARTER
In the second quarter, Maine gained the advantage that held throughout the game, outscoring the Mad Ants 38-22 with the team hitting six more three pointers while holding the Mad Ants to just nine made shots.
THIRD QUARTER
Indiana pushed back some in the third but gave up 40 points as Maine hit six more three pointers with DJ Steward scoring nine points in the quarter.
FOURTH QUARTER
In the fourth, the Mad Ants exploded for 39 points, many on the hands of Isaiah Wong. The rookie two-way scored 13 of his 21 second half points in the fourth. Indiana cut their one time 30-point deficit down to four in the final frame. After a three from Mangas and free throws from Craig Sword cut it down, a Will Vorhees putback with 1:01 to play cut the Indiana deficit to 123-119. Steward ended a Celtics scoreless drought with 37.2 seconds left on his own putback to push the lead back to six points.
Steward led three Celtics with 20 or more points with his 23, Drew Peterson added 21 and hit four three pointes and Jordan Schakel scored 20. Leading the Mad Ants was Mangas’ 29 points with Wong joining him in the twenties with 23 points. Also in double figures for the Mad Ants were Craig Sword (13), Stephan Hicks (12), Jordan Bell (12) and Elfrid Payton (10).
Originally posted on gleague.nba.com