PORTLAND – Call it Freaky Friday. The Maine Red Claws awoke from a weak six-game stretch to upend the Springfield Armor 100-92 on Friday night at the Portland Expo.
For a change it was the Red Claws (14-22) making key plays down the stretch. They denied the Armor (21-14) the top spot in the East and halted Springfield’s eight-game win streak.
The Red Claws had a pair of steals and took a charge in the closing minutes to shut down the Armor’s offense.
With the score 92-92, Kenny Hayes drove to his left and into traffic for a layup and a 94-92 lead with 45 seconds remaining. Six free throws and a charging call later, the Red Claws got a second win in seven games.
“I think some of it is they didn’t play their best game. They didn’t play as well as they have. But some of it is us, too. We defended a whole lot better than we have,” Maine Coach Dave Leitao said.
“Particularly late in the game, we probably haven’t had a game-saving charge like we did today. It didn’t win the game but it really made a difference.”
The win was a welcome bit of good news for the Red Claws. Maine allowed 111 or more points in six of its seven games prior to topping Springfield.
It helped the Red Claws that Springfield had its worst shooting night of the season. The Armor hit 28 of 91 shots, just 30.8 percent, as the offense stuttered all night.
Credit Maine with some of that, but Springfield also hit just 5 of 27 3-pointers, many of them good looks.
Morris Almond led the offense with 34 points. Lawrence Hill scored 17 points. Hill, the team’s lone All-Star, said the short D-League All-Star break helped the Red Claws come out with more enthusiasm against the Armor.
Hill certainly had some. He took a charge on the perimeter in the first quarter and pumped his fists. He posed a little after getting fouled on a dunk in the fourth quarter.
“I feel like the break was good for us, a chance for us to start something new,” Hill said.
“We were taking charges, getting rebounds and charges, blocked shots, and that’s how you win.”
After hitting the layup that gave the Red Claws the 94-92 lead with 45 seconds remaining, Hayes hit four free throws and Almond added two to ice the victory.
With the way the defense was playing, Hayes’ layup might have been enough.
NOTES: The Philadelphia 76ers recalled Craig Brackins from the Red Claws before Friday’s game. In seven games for the Red Claws, Brackins averaged 18.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.6 blocks per game.
Brackins’ roster spot was filled by Hamady Ndiaye, who has 13 points in his 19 career NBA games.
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