With its 90-88 win over the Erie BayHawks Friday night, the Maine Red Claws (20-18) are a game out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the NBA D-League standings.

Erie (20-16) currently holds that eighth spot, which makes Sunday's 1 p.m. game between the two teams a little more interesting.

In Friday's win, Maine showed some of its new look with recently-acquired guard Mark Tyndale coming off the bench to play solid defense. Newly-activated guard Jeremiah Rivers started and also played fine defense.

Another guard that Maine just traded for, Gabe Pruitt, did not play Friday. He just arrived and Red Coach coach Mike Taylor said he wanted to give him time to adapt to Maine's system. Expect him to play Sunday.

For a wrap-up of Friday's game (plus a video of the Spin Doctors' Chris Barron singing the National Anthem), see today's story.

Maine has plenty of All-Star players, but another unnoticed guard/forward keeps contributing. Omar Reed played only 14 1/2 minutes Friday, but recorded seven rebounds, three assists and four points.

Except for a horrible beginning to the third quarter, the Red Claws looked like a contender Friday.

We'll how how Sunday goes at the Expo.

About this Blog

Kevin Thomas covers baseball and basketball for the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram. He wisely moved to Maine in 1994 after working for the St. Petersburg Times. He is married to Nancy and they have nine children.

Follow his thoughts on the Boston Red Sox and Portland Sea Dogs on Clearing the Bases

Follow his thoughts on the Boston Celtics and Maine Red Claws on Holding Court


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