Point guard Tim Frazier didn’t hesitate.
Maine’s 23-point first-half cushion had shrunk to a single point early in the fourth quarter. With Sioux Falls having a chance at a tying basket, the Red Claws forced a shot-clock violation on the visitors, who were a tad slow getting back on defense.
Frazier grabbed the inbounds pass and dribbled the length of the court as if uncorked from a starter’s block. He raced through everyone, made a layup, drew a foul and sank the free throw.
Frazier wound up with the fifth triple double in franchise history Saturday night as the Red Claws built a big lead before withstanding a furious comeback to win 122-114 and remain unbeaten at the Portland Expo.
“This one means a lot, especially at the professional level,” said Frazier, who finished with 18 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds.
“And we had to pull out a tough win, so it feels good.”
A crowd of 2,253 saw the Red Claws (6-2) set records for points in the first half (78) and second quarter (44) as they shot a torrid 60 percent (12 of 20) from beyond the arc.
In the second half, however, they made only one 3-pointer in 15 attempts as Sioux Falls, which trailed 78-56 at intermission, pulled to within 97-96 early in the fourth.
After Boston Celtics rookie Dwight Powell (25 points, 12 rebounds) muscled his way through traffic for an emphatic dunk, Maine got the stop it needed and sent Frazier off to the races.
“I just tried to get it up as quick as I can,” Frazier said. “A lane opened up and I got an and-one.”
Frazier’s three-point play gave the Red Claws a six-point lead, 102-96.
Fuquan Edwin (28 points) answered with a 3-pointer for Sioux Falls (3-4), but Chris Babb, from the left corner, finally drained a 3-pointer after the Claws had missed their first 12 after intermission.
Sioux Falls never seriously threatened again.
“We came out a little slow,” Babb said of the third quarter, during which the Claws shot 12.5 percent from the field. “We weren’t playing with the same intensity, the same pressure we were in the first half. We kind of let them get comfortable and they started hitting shots.”
Babb hit all four of his 3-point attempts in the first half. Celtics rookie James Young (19 points) also hit four 3-pointers in the first half, on six attempts. Omari Johnson (10 points) and Andre Stringer chipped in with a pair apiece.
Coach Scott Morrison saw Maine build a 77-54 lead shortly before halftime and reminded the Claws not to be complacent when they returned to the floor.
Sioux Falls outscored the Red Claws 31-14 in the third to make it a five-point game.
“A smart person is going to learn from close calls and not have to wait for a full mistake to learn,” Morrison said. “Hopefully we can remember this game and have it be a reminder to the guys without having to take a loss.”
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