The Maine Red Claws shook off a slow start with a strong second quarter Friday night and ended a five-game losing streak with a 113-101 victory over the Fort Wayne Mad Ants at the Portland Expo.
Rakeem Christmas, on assigment from the Indiana Pacers, paced an early 8-2 run for the Mad Ants, but R.J. Hunter, on assignment from the Boston Celtics, dropped in nine of his 13 points in the first quarter to pull the Red Claws within 26-23.
Maine (13-11) opened the second quarter with a 12-4 run to take the lead, which it never gave up.
Omari Johnson had eight of his 14 points in the third quarter for the Red Claws, but John Lucas III answered with 12 points as Fort Wayne pulled within 78-75 by the end of the period.
The Red Claws opened the final quarter with an 11-2 run to put it away.
Lucas finished with 25 points, C.J. Fair had 18 and Christmas 17 for Fort Wayne.
Terry Rozier led Maine with 20 points and nine boards. Cody Clarke had 17 points.
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