AUGUSTA — Last fall’s Maine Red Claws exhibition game at the Augusta Civic Center was a good indication of the success the Portland-based NBA Development League team would have in its inaugural season.

The Claws drew more than 3,000 fans for their only exhibition game and hit the Portland Expo court running for the regular season.

“We sold out every one of our games,” Red Claws General Manager Jon Jennings said. “That was the first time that’s happened in the history of the D-League.”

The Red Claws return to the Augusta Civic Center at 7 tonight when they face the Springfield Armor in an exhibition. The Kennebec Journal is the official sponsor of the game.

Sales in Augusta, Jennings said Friday, were comparable to last year. The team will also give out bobblehead dolls of Mario West, the only holdover from last year’s team, and Celtics legend Larry Bird.

The team, coached by Austin Ainge, is one of 16 in the D-League and affiliated with both the Boston Celtics and Charlotte Bobcats. The only current player on the roster who played in either of those training camps this fall is former University of Massachusetts forward Stephane Lasme, who was the last player cut at Celtics camp.

There are 15 players on the roster and that number will be cut to 10 by Wednesday. There are several criteria in the evaluation process, Jennings said.

“One of the things we look at is how the players perform before a live crowd,” he said.

West, a 6-foot-5 guard out of Georgia Tech, was a fan favorite last season which he finished under contract with the Atlanta Hawks.

Magnum Rolle, a 6-11 center from Louisiana Tech, is a top candidate for an NBA job, according to Jennings, while former Syracuse forward Paul Harris is another intriguing story.

“He was a (Red Claws) first-round pick last year,” Jennings said. “He got hurt in the Utah Jazz training camp and didn’t play last season. He’s making his debut this year.”