PORTLAND, Maine — The Maine Red Claws saw their five game winning streak snapped Sunday night at the Portland Expo Building at the hands of the Delaware 87ers, 118-112.
This was the Red Claws first home loss to the 87ers.
Maine’s Terry Rozier, on assignment from the Boston Celtics, finished one rebound shy of a triple-double (22 points, 9 rebounds, 13 assists). Jordan Mickey, also on assignment, finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
The Red Claws (11-7) started off hot, with Andre Stringer, Malcom Miller and Rozier converting three-point shots on three straight possessions. Delaware (12-9) was able to keep it close thanks to six quick points from Sean Kilpatrick, but Jordan Mickey, also on assignment from the Celtics, threw down a dunk to spark an 11-2 run which was capped by a Rozier dunk.
Jordan McRae and Kilpatrick scored to draw the 87ers to within eight points, but Miller, Coty Clarke and Coron Williams scored in consecutive possessions to lead the Red Claws to a 30-20 lead after one.
The 87ers took control of the game in the second quarter, with Philadelphia 76ers assignee Christian Wood, David Laury and Kilpatrick leading a 21-4 run to erase a 14 point deficit and take a 48-45 lead. The teams traded baskets until the end of the quarter, with the visitors heading into the locker room with a 56-52 lead.
McRae picked up where he left off, scoring five of the first seven Delaware points in the third. The Red Claws traded baskets throughout most of the quarter, with Omari Johnson, Mickey and Rozier matching Wood, Kilpatrick and Laury before an 16-3 run pushed the 87ers lead back up to 16. Miller converted on Maine’s final possession of the third to close the gap to 90-75.
In the final frame, Delaware seemed to control the pace of the game, with Maine getting strong efforts by Rozier and Stringer, only to be matched by McCrae and Kilpatrick. With Maine trailing 103-88, Levi Randolph drew a foul and converted both free throws, igniting a 16-2 run with Johnson, Rozier, Malcolm and Mickey all contributing, cutting the lead to 105-102.
After five straight McCrae points, Rozier, Johnson and Mickey battled back to cut the lead to 112-110, but Kilpatrick and McCrae converted their free throws down the stretch to close out the win.
Kilpatrick led all scorers with 34 points. McRae (26 points, six assists), Wood (16 points, 17 rebounds), Rodney Carney (11) and Laury (10 points, five rebounds) round out the 87ers in double figures.
Johnson (24 points, nine rebounds), Miller (15 points, five rebounds), Mickey (12 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, three blocks), Stringer (12 points, four assists), Clarke (10 points nine rebounds) and Randolph (10) round out the Red Claws in double digits.