The Boston Celtics might not have come away from their game with a win Sunday afternoon, but the Maine Red Claws kept right on rolling behind Tacko Fall’s season-high 21 points.
The win, a 129-115 come-from-behind victory over the Raptors 905 (the Toronto Raptors’ G League affiliate), saw the Senegalese center have his most efficient offensive game yet. He went 9-of-9 from the floor with five boards, two blocks and two assists.
He also received the first technical foul of his career.
Struggling for a board with 905 forward Devin Robinson, the pair got a little physical and ended up getting slapped with double techs for their efforts. Fall had little remorse for ruining his unblemished record on the play.
According to the Portland Press Herald’s Glenn Jordan, the UCF product said:
I’m the biggest guy on the floor. I’m going to play like it. So if you’re going to come at me, be ready, because it’s not going to go your way.
Tacko has truly become more comfortable using his body and his length in recent games and tonight’s tilt against the comparatively small Raptors 905 roster — who have no players taller than 6’8” or weighing more than 220 pounds — was no exception.
In fact, it was fatigue as much as anything that impacted Fall’s game the most, forcing the big man to sit late after expending most of his dominating the interior energy.
Boston’s other two-way signee, rookie floor general Tremont Waters, had a good night as well, logging a season-high of his own with 11 assists and eight points.
“I knew I had to get in there and pass it out to my teammates,” Water said. “They were making shots. That was our game plan. Get in the paint and kick it out.
Boston’s sole lottery pick, swingman Romeo Langford, was assigned to Maine but did not play while recuperating from a sprained ankle sustained in Friday night’s victory over the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.
Despite being down his services (and stretches of ugly play), the Claws were able to come away with the win.
The Red Claws (3-0) join the Memphis Hustle (4-0) as the two remaining G League teams without a loss. They next face the Raptors 905 at home in Canada on Wednesday, Nov. 17.