PORTLAND, MAINE — The Maine Celtics beat the School Park Skyhawks on Thursday evening 123-122 due to some late-game heroics from JD Davison (36 factors, 8 rebounds, 6 assists), an outstanding all-around recreation from Baylor Scheierman (23 factors, 11 assists), and regular contributions from Anton Watson (19 factors, 8 rebounds).
With the win, the Maine Celtics improved to 5-5 on the common season and extra importantly, the Celtics’ G-League affiliate continues to exhibit that a number of gamers appear prepared for NBA minutes.
Listed below are 4 takeaways from a cold Thursday evening on the Portland Expo.
Is JD Davison getting too good for the G-League?
JD Davison, as he has been for a lot of the previous three seasons, was essentially the most dominant participant on the ground. An uncharacteristic late-game turnover practically value the Celtics the sport — however he hit a three-pointer off the glass to ship the sport to additional time.
Then, in a first-to-7-points Elam Ending in additional time, Davison sunk the game-winning floater. He completed the evening with a reasonably ridiculous statline: 36 factors (16-28 FG), 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and three steals.
In his third season in Maine, Davison completed every little thing one may hope to attain within the G-League. He’s the franchise’s all-time main scorer in factors, assists, and steals.
And at 22 years outdated, he’s having his finest 12 months but, averaging 25 factors per recreation on 47.4% taking pictures, alongside 7.7 assists and 4.6 rebounds.
Maine Celtics head coach Tyler Lashbrook complimented Davison’s intelligence after the win.
“The factor that may shock different individuals is simply how sensible he’s — as a result of he’s such a quiet individual off the courtroom,” he stated. “He’s one among, if he’s not the, smartest participant I’ve ever been round by way of managing conditions and understanding coverages and understanding reads and understanding conditions. He’s a very high-level IQ basketball participant.”
That’s fairly excessive reward coming from a coach who has been round elite gamers on each the Celtics’ and 76ers’ for the previous few seasons.
Baylor Scheierman continues to excel in Maine
Baylor Scheierman, drafted with the No. 30 decide in July, had one other sturdy G-League outing, taking part in some level guard minutes and demonstrating each his taking pictures and playmaking talents.
“I’m having fun with my time up right here quite a bit,” Scheierman informed CelticsBlog/CLNS Media pregame. “I benefit from the guys and coaches quite a bit and simply get pleasure from taking part in. That’s type of the way you get higher, get as many reside reps, so I attempt to reap the benefits of each probability I get.”
“I really feel much more snug than after I first acquired up right here — particularly with new teammates and coaches, it takes a while to regulate… not simply with the staff, however the NBA fashion of play,” he stated.
Scheierman has been constantly with the Maine Celtics over the previous few months, the place he’s managed to ascertain a rhythm each on and off the ground.
“That’s one thing that the fellows in Boston talked quite a bit about — creating a routine,” he stated. “It’s laborious to try this once you’re going forwards and backwards, clearly. With the ability to be right here quite a lot of the time has helped me get right into a routine of not simply basketball, however taking good care of my physique, vitamin, and all that.”
Scheierman has made extra three-pointers (46) than any G-League participant up to now this season. He’s taking pictures 39.3% from three and 90.5% from the road. He’s additionally grabbing 6.3 rebounds and racking up 3.9 assists per recreation.
“I’m very assured in my talents to influence the sport in quite a lot of alternative ways,” Scheierman stated. “Clearly, coming in, lots of people thought it was simply taking pictures — however my rebounding, my secondary playmaking is one thing that may’ve shocked individuals.”
Scheierman took a knee to the hamstring within the fourth quarter of the sport and was hobbled, however returned to the sport after a fast locker room go to.
“He’s a baller and a warrior, so it’s going to take every little thing to maintain him out,” Lashbrook stated.
Drew Peterson misses recreation, nonetheless coping with concussion signs
Two-way participant Drew Peterson suffered a concussion after an in-game collision on Jan. 7 towards the Indiana Mad Ants, in Indianapolis. Peterson, a full participant in Wednesday’s Maine Celtics follow, handled some concussion signs Thursday and was held out of the sport for precautionary measures.
Sam Hauser in the home to look at his brother, Joey, face the Celtics
Sam Hauser spent important time within the G-League with the Maine Celtics earlier than rising as a rotation participant in Boston. His brother, Joey, is trying to observe in his footsteps. Joey Hauser went undrafted within the 2023 NBA Draft after a university profession with Michigan State and Marquette and spent final season with the Ontario Clippers earlier than touchdown with the Skyhawks this season.
With the Boston Celtics having an off-day on Thursday, Sam and his spouse, Mary, attended the sport and sat within the crowd with their four-month-old child, Theodore. At halftime, Joey briefly caught up with the remainder of the Hausers earlier than heading to the locker room.
Joey Hauser is averaging 3.1 factors and a pair of.6 rebounds in 14.3 minutes per recreation for the Skyhawks. The 2 brothers have a podcast, alongside their dad, known as the On the Haus.
Hauser joined the NBC Sports activities Boston broadcast for an prolonged stretch within the third quarter.
“There are such a lot of good recollections from right here [Portland],” Hauser stated on the printed. “That is the place it began.”
