With his childhood friend Marcus Smart of the Celtics watching from a courtside table, Trey Davis rescued the Maine Red Claws from a ninth straight NBA G League defeat.
Davis returned from a third-quarter ankle injury to score two big baskets in the final minute and lift the Red Claws past the Windy City Bulls 112-109 before a sellout crowd of 2,417 at the Portland Expo Sunday afternoon.
It was Maine’s first victory in four weeks, since a pre-Olympics matinee at the Expo on Jan. 28 against Long Island.
The Red Claws have 10 games remaining and would have to win at least eight in order to get back to .500. On Sunday afternoon, they led by 11 early in the fourth quarter after a Guerschon Yabusele 3-pointer but Windy City whittled away at the margin until, with just over a minute remaining, the Claws clung to a lead of 107-105.
Davis took a pass from a double-teamed Kadeem Allen and sank a shot-clock-beating floater from the baseline. Windy City answered from the top of the key with a shot by Chicago two-way player Antonio Blakeney initially ruled a 3-pointer until after a video review.
With 26 seconds remaining and the shot clock winding down again, Davis let fly with a two-hand push shot from two feet behind the 3-point line to make it 112-107.
“We’re not surprised what he did at the end of the game,” said Allen, who finished with a team-high 28 points to go along with six assists and six rebounds. “Big-time players make big-time plays. He stepped up and made two big plays at the end.”
Davis had a chance to salt away the game but rimmed out two free throws with 16 seconds remaining. Windy City had one last chance for a tying 3-pointer from the right corner but missed.
Blakeney finished with 37 points for the Bulls. Daniel Dixon had 24 and Yabusele 23 points and 16 rebounds for the Red Claws. Together they combined for 11 of Maine’s 20 3-pointers.
“We’re trying to go on a run,” Davis said, “and finish off the (rest of the) season undefeated. It starts now.”
NOTES: Devin Williams and Anthony Bennett are expected to return to the Red Claws for Wednesday’s game in Canton, Ohio. They have been playing for their respective national teams (USA, Canada) in FIBA World Cup qualifying games. … Season-ticket holder Rich Mead, 59, of South Portland sank a 3-pointer during a third-quarter timeout to win $1,500 as part of a promotion that increases a jackpot by $100 each game a fan misses the shot. … Maine opened with a 7-0 run and never trailed except for a few seconds late in the second quarter, when Ryan Arcidiacono converted a three-point play for a 47-46 Windy City advantage.
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