Tag: G League

Recap: OKC Blue’s 117-100 win over Maine Celtics clinches 2024 G League championship

Recap: OKC Blue’s 117-100 win over Maine Celtics clinches 2024 G League championship.

The OKC Blue dominated in their 117-100 win over the Maine Celtics on Monday to win the 2024 G League Finals. The decisive Game 3 road win awarded the Blue the G League championship. Ousmane Dieng won the G League Finals MVP.

After the first quarter, the Blue built a 29-22 lead over the Celtics. A 34-point second frame capped off by a 21-0 run to close out the period helped OKC enter halftime with a commanding 63-40 advantage.

The Blue continued their momentum at the start of the second half with the first seven points for a game-changing 28-0 run that ballooned a 70-40 lead in the early stages of the third quarter.

The Celtics made some noise, cutting OKC’s lead to as little as 16 points, but the Blue tallied 29 points in the third quarter to enter the fourth frame with a 92-67 lead.

The Celtics made some noise with a 33-point fourth quarter, but not enough time was left for a serious comeback attempt.

The Blue shot 49% from the field and went 13-of-31 (41.9%) from 3. They went 12-of-14 from the free-throw line. They dished out 20 assists on 41 baskets. Six Blue players scored double-digit points.

Meanwhile, the Celtics shot 43% from the field and went 11-of-39 (28.2%) from 3. They went 5-of-8 from the free-throw line. They had 25 assists on 40 baskets. Four Celtics players scored double-digit points.

Some notable individual performances from both sides:

  • Ousmane Dieng: 25 points on 9-of-14 shooting, 5-of-6 from 3, six rebounds, four assists, two blocks.
  • Lindy Waters III: 15 points on 5-of-13 shooting, 2-of-5 from 3, 11 rebounds
  • Keyontae Johnson: 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting, four rebounds, two assists
  • Olivier Sarr: 10 points on 2-of-6 shooting, 13 rebounds, two assists, two blocks
  • Jahmi’us Ramsey: 18 points on 6-of-13 shooting, 2-of-3 from 3, four rebounds
  • JD Davison: 22 points on 9-of-19 shooting, 2-of-4 from 3, 10 assists, four rebounds, four steals
  • Drew Peterson: 13 points on 6-of-15 shooting, 1-of-7 from 3, eight rebounds, eight assists

The full highlights from the Blue’s 17-point win over the Boston Celtics’ G League affiliate to clinch the championship can be watched below:

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Everything you need to know about the Maine Celtics’ title run

It is the first-ever shot at a title for the Boston Celtics’ developmental affiliate, with the best-of-three series currently knotted up at one game each.

The Maine Celtics will take on the Oklahoma City Blue for the 2024 G League Championship on this Monday (April 13) night. It is the first-ever shot at a title for the Boston Celtics’ developmental affiliate, with the best-of-three series currently knotted up at one game each for Maine and the Oklahoma City Thunder G League squad.

How did they get here? How good are they, and how do G League playoffs work? What are games in Portland like in the regular and postseason? And how is the synergy between Boston and Maine in terms of developing players and winning games? 

The hosts of the CLNS Media “Celtics Lab” podcast recently sat down with Celtics Blog’s Noa Dalzell to get all the details you need to know about what might be G League Banner No. 1 for Maine.

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Thunder assign Lindy Waters III to OKC Blue amid 2024 G League Finals

Thunder assign Lindy Waters III to OKC Blue amid 2024 G League Finals.

The Oklahoma City Thunder announced on Thursday that they have assigned Lindy Waters III to the G League’s OKC Blue.

This has been a common occurrence for Waters III, who was signed to a standard deal after starting the season in a two-way roster slot. The move gives the 26-year-old a chance to get consistent playing time.

Waters III is in his third season with the Thunder, mostly on two-way deals. In 36 games this season, he has averaged 3.3 points.

The Blue are in the 2024 G League Finals against the Maine Celtics. The Celtics are currently up 1-0 in the best-of-three series. Game 2 is set to be played on Thursday, April 11 at Paycom Center.

The 26-year-old should help the Blue’s odds of tying the series at one apiece. He’s averaged 21.8 points on 48% shooting in 12 G League games this season.

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Recap: OKC Blue suffers 106-86 loss to Maine Celtics in G League Finals Game 1

Recap: OKC Blue suffers 106-86 loss to Maine Celtics in G League Finals Game 1.

The OKC Blue suffered a 106-86 loss to the Maine Celtics in Game 1 of the 2024 G League Finals on Monday. The road loss puts the Blue in a 0-1 hole in the best-of-three series.

The Blue will hope to even the series at one apiece when it hosts Game 2 on Thursday, April 11 at Paycom Center in OKC.

The Blue had a slow start as they trailed 33-14 after the first quarter. A 28-point second frame didn’t move the needle much as OKC entered halftime with a 59-42 deficit.

A 25-point third frame by the Celtics pushed their lead to 84-61 entering the fourth quarter. The final frame was inconsequential as OKC tallied 25 points.

The Blue shot 35% from the field and went 12-of-45 (26.7%) from 3. They had 22 assists on 34 baskets. Only two Blue players scored double-digit points.

Meanwhile, the Celtics shot 48% from the field and went 12-of-35 (34.3%) from 3. They had 28 assists on 43 baskets. Four Celtics players scored double-digit points.

Some notable individual performances from both sides:

  • Ousmane Dieng: 15 points on 6-of-17 shooting, 3-of-8 from 3, four assists, three rebounds
  • Jaden Shackelford: 21 points on 8-of-19 shooting, 5-of-13 from 3, four assists, three rebounds
  • Olivier Sarr: nine points on 3-of-10 shooting, 1-of-5 from 3, 12 rebounds
  • JD Davison: 23 points on 8-of-18 shooting, 4-of-8 from 3, 12 assists, four rebounds
  • Neemias Queta: 20 points on 9-of-11 shooting, 13 rebounds, three blocks
  • Drew Peterson: 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting, 2-of-6 from 3, 11 rebounds, five assists, three steals
  • Jordan Walsh: 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting, 3-of-4 from 3, six rebounds, three steals

The full highlights from the Blue’s 20-point loss to the Boston Celtics’ G League affiliate can be watched below:

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Maine Celtics set to take on Oklahoma City Blue in 2024 G League Playoffs Finals

Maine will face off with the Oklahoma City Blue in a best-of-three-series.

 It is not just the Boston Celtics who are gearing up for a run at a title this month, with the Boston-based ball club’s G League affiliate up in Portland having advanced to the G League Finals. The Maine Celtics just finished beating the Long Island Nets (the G League affiliate of the Brooklyn Nets) to earn a spot in their league’s finals for the 2023-24 season.

In it, Maine will face off with the Oklahoma City Blue, the developmental affiliates of the Oklahoma City Thunder in the G League. It has rarely been the case that the ball clubs with such good records at the NBA level have met in the G league postseason. So, this new wrinkle will add a bit of extra sauce to an already intriguing matchup.

The folks behind the “News Center Maine” YouTube channel recently ran a short on the looming three-game series. Check it out in the clip embedded below for details.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Recap: OKC Blue advance to 2024 G League Finals in 114-107 win over Stockton Kings

Recap: OKC Blue advances to 2024 G League Finals in 114-107 win over Stockton Kings.

The OKC Blue collected a 114-107 win over the Stockton Kings in the Western Conference finals. The playoff road win advanced the Blue to the 2024 G League Finals.

The Blue will face the Maine Celtics in a best-of-three series to determine the G League champions. Maine will have the homecourt advantage.

The Blue suffered a slow start; the Kings built a 27-16 lead in the first quarter. OKC trailed by as many as 15 points in the opening frame.

A switch flipped for the Blue in the second quarter. They outscored the Kings, 42-18, to enter halftime with a 58-45 lead. The teams scored 29 points apiece in the third frame.

The Blue built an 18-point lead in the second half and the Kings utilized a 33-point final frame to draw as close as five points, but they couldn’t get over the hump.

The Blue shot 47% from the field and went 13-of-33 (39.4%) from 3. They dished 19 assists on 40 baskets. Four Blue players scored double-digit points.

Meanwhile, the Kings shot 45% from the field and went 10-of-36 (27.8%) from 3. They collected 23 assists on 37 baskets. Four Kings players scored double-digit points.

Some notable individual performances from both sides:

  • Ousmane Dieng: 23 points on 9-of-16 shooting, 13 rebounds, four assists, three steals
  • Adam Flagler: 21 points on 6-of-15 shooting, 5-of-11 from 3, five assists
  • Jahmi’us Ramsey: 29 points on 11-of-17 shooting, seven rebounds, three assists
  • Keyontae Johnson: 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting, four rebounds
  • Jalen Slawson: 26 points on 6-of-13 shooting, 2-of-4 from 3, 8-of-10 on free throws, four assists, four blocks, three steals
  • Stanley Johnson: 30 points on 11-of-23 shooting, 5-of-11 from 3, six rebounds, four assists, four steals
  • Deonte Burton: 15 points on 6-of-16 shooting, 1-of-7 from 3, three assists

The full highlights from the Blue’s seven-point win over the Kings can be watched below:

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Recap: OKC Blue advance to WCF with 111-93 playoff win over Sioux Falls Skyforce

Recap: OKC Blue advance to WCF with 111-93 playoff win over Sioux Falls Skyforce.

The OKC Blue collected a 111-93 win over the Sioux Falls Skyforce on Friday. The G League playoff road win advances the Blue to the Western Conference final.

The Blue will travel to face the Stockton Kings on Sunday, April 7 in the conference final.

After trailing 25-23 following the first quarter, the Blue utilized a 32-point second frame to enter halftime with a 55-49 lead. The Skyforce clawed back into the contest behind a 26-point third frame. OKC’s lead was cut to 77-75 after three quarters.

The Sky Force kept it close in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, but a decisive 14-0 run by the Blue gave them an overwhelming 17-point lead with under four minutes left. OKC coasted through the final minutes for the double-digit win.

The Blue shot 48% from the field and went 9-of-29 (31%) from 3. They had 30 assists on 39 baskets. Six Blue players scored double-digit points.

Meanwhile, the Sky Force were limited to 36% shooting and went 11-of-36 (30.6%) from 3. They had 18 assists on 33 baskets. Only four Sky Force players scored double-digit points.

Some notable individual performances from both sides:

  • Olivier Sarr: 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting, 2-of-4 from 3, 11 rebounds, six assists, five blocks
  • Adam Flagler: 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting, 3-of-9 from 3, six rebounds, four assists, three steals
  • Keyontae Johnson: 18 points on 9-of-13 shooting, two rebounds, two assists
  • Ousmane Dieng: two points on 1-of-10 shooting, seven rebounds, seven assists
  • Hunter Maldonado: 15 points on 4-of-9 shooting, six rebounds, five assists
  • Alondes Williams: 24 points on 7-of-25 shooting, 2-of-12 from 3, eight assists, five rebounds
  • Cole Swider: 22 points on 7-of-14 shooting, 6-of-9 from 3, nine rebounds
  • Josh Christopher: 16 points on 6-of-16 shooting, six rebounds, three steals

The full highlights from the Blue’s 18-point win over the Miami Heat’s G League affiliate can be watched below:

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Recap: OKC Blue advance in G League playoffs with 126-125 OT win over RGV Vipers

Recap: OKC Blue advance in G League playoffs with 126-125 OT win over RGV Vipers.

The OKC Blue collected a thrilling 126-125 overtime win over the visiting Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the first round of the G League playoffs on Tuesday.

The Blue advance to play the Sioux Falls Skyforce on the road in the conference semifinals on Friday.

The Blue led 28-24 after the first quarter. A 31-point second frame ballooned their lead to 12, 59-47, at the break. The Vipers utilized a 37-point third frame to cut into OKC’s lead. The Blue had a 90-84 lead after three.

With the Blue holding a nine-point lead with a little over four minutes left, the Vipers mounted a comeback. They went on a 15-3 run to turn the deficit into a three-point lead with one minute left.

Keyontae Johnson tied it at 119 with an impressive and-1 score. The teams combined for four missed shots in the final 38 seconds to end regulation tied at 119.

In overtime, both teams exchanged baskets before Ousmane Dieng hit the game-winning floater to produce the Blue’s seventh point in the untimed period.

Some individual performances from both sides:

  • Ousmane Dieng: 14 points on 5-of-16 shooting, 1-of-7 from 3, seven assists, seven rebounds, two blocks
  • Adam Flagler: 30 points on 11-of-19 shooting, 7-of-14 from 3, five assists, four rebounds
  • Olivier Sarr: 14 points on 4-of-10 shooting, 22 rebounds, three blocks
  • Keyontae Johnson: 17 points on 6-of-18 shooting, 2-of-6 from 3, seven rebounds, five assists
  • Hunter Maldonado: 19 points on 6-of-13 shooting, 5-of-5 from free throws, nine rebounds, three assists
  • Jarrett Culver: 29 points on 10-of-20 shooting, 0-of-6 from 3, six rebounds, three assists, three steals
  • Nate Hinton: 22 points on 9-of-18 shooting, 11 assists, seven rebounds, two steals
  • Jermaine Samuels Jr.: 20 points on 8-of-18 shooting, 13 rebounds, seven assists
  • Darius Days: 16 points on 5-of-15 shooting, 5-of-14 from 3, six rebounds

The full highlights from the Blue’s one-point OT win over the Houston Rockets’ G League affiliate can be watched below:

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Former Duke star Lindsey Harding is first woman ever to win G-League Coach of the Year

Former Duke player Lindsey Harding wins the G-League Coach of the Year. She is the first woman in NBA history to win the award.

Former Duke women’s basketball player Lindsey Harding made history on Tuesday after she was named the G-League Coach of the Year.

Harding became the first woman in NBA history to win the award after she led the Stockton Kings to a G-League-best 24-10 record.

She led the Kings to this record in just her first season as Stockton’s head coach.

Harding played at Duke from 2002 to 2007, winning both National Player of the Year and National Defensive Player of the Year honors as a senior before becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 WNBA Draft.

Harding, who was drafted by the Phoenix Mercury, played in the WNBA for nine seasons. She was inducted into the Duke Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018.

Before taking the head coaching position with Stockton, she began her coaching career with the Mexico women’s national basketball team in 2022.

Recap: OKC Blue win regular-season finale over Delaware Blue Coats, set for playoffs

Recap: OKC Blue win regular-season finale over Delaware Blue Coats, set for playoffs.

The G League’s OKC Blue finished their regular season with a 121-95 win over the Delaware Blue Coats on Saturday. The road win improved the Blue’s record to 21-13.

With the regular season over, the Blue set their sights on the G League playoffs. They’ll host a first-round matchup on Tuesday.

The Blue held a 21-17 lead after the first quarter. A 31-point second frame gave OKC a 52-41 halftime advantage.

The second half was much of the same. A 34-point third quarter helped the Blue enter the final frame with a 25-point advantage.

The Blue shot 55% from the field and went 11-of-34 (32.4%) from 3. They dished 26 assists on 51 baskets. Six Blue players scored double-digit points.

Meanwhile, the Blue Coats shot 36% from the field and went an ugly 3-of-35 (8.6%) from 3. They only had 14 assists on 34 baskets. Four Blue Coats players scored double-digit points.

Some notable individual performances from both sides:

  • Ousmane Dieng: 19 points on 9-of-14 shooting, 1-of-4 from 3, nine assists, eight rebounds
  • Olivier Sarr: 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting, 16 rebounds, two assists, two blocks
  • Lindy Waters III: 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting, 3-of-7 from 3, seven rebounds, two assists, two blocks
  • Hunter Maldonado: 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting, five rebounds, four assists
  • Jeff Dowtin Jr.: 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting, 1-of-5 from 3, three assists, two rebounds
  • Ricky Council IV: 18 points on 7-of-20 shooting, 1-of-7 from 3, five rebounds, two blocks
  • Melvin Frazier Jr.: 14 points on 6-of-12 shooting, four rebounds, two steals
  • Jarron Cumberland: 19 points on 4-of-11 shooting, five assists, four rebounds, three steals

The full highlights from the Blue’s 26-point win over the Philadelphia 76ers’ G League affiliate can be watched below:

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