NEWARK, Delaware — The Maine Red Claws set three franchise records in a wild 147-133 win over the Delaware 87ers in NBA D-League action Friday night.
The Red Claws set records for points in a game (147), points in a half (81) and points in a quarter (46). Without the help of any players on assignment from the Boston Celtics, the Red Claws won three of four games on their road trip, and return home to the Portland Expo Saturday night to face Westchester.
Malcolm Miller led Maine with a career-high 30 points and 14 rebounds. Davion Berry added 21 points, and Corey Walden added 17 points off the bench.
The Red Claws (16-13) started hot in the first quarter, torching Delaware with 10 made 3-pointers in the first period. Omari Johnson, who leads the NBA D-League in made 3-pointers, drilled three in the opening quarter, as Maine poured in a record 46 points and surged to a 16-point lead.
The Claws shot 60 percent in the first half and 59 percent from downtown, finishing with a record 81 points and an 81-61 lead at the break. The Red Claws led by as many as 24 points in the game.
Delaware (17-15) got back into the game with a huge third quarter. Led by Sean Kilpatrick and Russ Smith, the Sevens scored 43 points, setting a record for points scored in a quarter by a Red Claws’ opponent.
Smith finished with 39 points in the game, a career high. Kilpatrick added 33 points, while Christian Wood contributed 24 points and 10 rebounds. After a 43-33 third quarter, Delaware had cut the lead to 10, at 114-104.
In the final quarter, the Sevens would get as close as seven points, with Maine in foul trouble. Ralph Sampson III and Coty Clarke both fouled out of the game, while Johnson was ejected for receiving two technical fouls.
With a small lineup, the Red Claws weathered the storm. Levi Randolph hit a clutch basket, and Miller continued to play strong with an key offensive board and put-back. Andre Stringer buried a couple of 3-pointers late to put the game away, and Walden’s driving layup extended the score to a Red Claws franchise record.