In five previous seasons in Portland, the number of Maine Red Claws players who achieved a triple-double stat line – at least 10 in three categories – was four.

Same as Tim Frazier has done this season.

Needing one rebound to reach the milestone Thursday night, Frazier grabbed an airball, twisted in midair and kissed a reverse layup off the glass with five minutes remaining of what became a 121-110 D-League victory over the Austin Spurs before a crowd of 2,527 at the Portland Expo.

“This was a tight game,” said Frazier, who finished with 22 points, 14 assists and 13 rebounds. “Stats is out the door. You just want to get the win.”

The game pitted the top team in the Eastern Conference against the top team in the West. Austin (29-11) had won 13 of its previous 14 games and Maine (25-11) had won 6 of 7.

“That definitely had a playoff feel to it,” said Chris Babb, who scored a game-high 33 points and picked up one of the game’s three technical fouls, a flagrant call for connecting with an elbow. “They’re a good, physical team. They have NBA-caliber guys, as well as we do. So it was going to be a knockout game.”

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The Spurs took a 61-55 halftime lead but failed to score for the first six minutes of the third quarter as Maine went on a 17-0 run.

“We made a couple of small adjustments,” said Red Claws Coach Scott Morrison, “but at the end of the day I think our guys just dug down and played tougher, made it harder for them to get to the rim and forced some mid-range jumpers that we challenged. We were lucky that they didn’t fall early in the third quarter, and that helped us get back in the game and get a little momentum.”

The Spurs eventually regained the lead at 78-76 late in the third but a Jason Calliste three-point play gave Maine the lead for good at 84-81.

“Give credit to Maine,” said Austin Coach Ken McDonald, who had only eight players at his disposal Thursday night.  “Frazier was tremendous. A lot of guys stepped up and made some shots. Babb stepped up, and Omari Johnson.”

Johnson connected on four of his first five 3-point attempts and finished with 23 points, eight rebounds and three blocks. Romero Osby chipped in with 13 points.

Austin got as close as four points in the fourth quarter after Kyle Anderson – on assignment from the San Antonio Spurs – successfully picked the pocket of first Frazier and then Rodney McGruder to make it 105-101. The Spurs had a chance to make it closer, but Frazier rebounded a missed shot and took off on a fast break, resulting in a McGruder dunk. Austin never got closer.

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Any remaining hopes of a comeback disappeared when Babb drew a charge, Osby converted a fast-break layup and Frazier buried a 3-pointer after  missing his first four attempts from long range.

“We are looking forward to possibly another matchup with Maine,” said Austin’s McDonald. “They’ve had a heck of a year and are a team we could potentially see in the playoffs.”

The Red Claws hit the road for their next three games before returning to the Expo on March 13 against Erie.

NOTES: Davion Berry made his Expo debut for the Red Claws. A 6-foot-4 guard from Weber State, Berry was the Big Sky Conference Player of the Year last winter and played in Italy until the Claws picked him up Wednesday. Berry replaced forward Christian Watford, traded Wednesday to Reno for the returning player rights to DeQuan Jones. Watford was popular in Maine’s locker room. “We have input but we’re not making the calls on personnel decisions,” Morrison said. “I thought the guys did a good job moving forward under not-ideal circumstances for them.” … Anderson led Austin with 29 points and reserve Jonathan Simmons added 25.


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