Jalen Jones finished what Marcus Georges-Hunt started, registering a triple-double in the regular-season home finale to neatly bookend his teammate’s triple-double in the home opener back in November.
This time, however, it wasn’t enough as the visiting Reno Bighorns spoiled a potential division-clinching celebration Sunday afternoon by beating the Red Claws 128-115 in an NBA D-League game before a sellout crowd of 2,717 at the Portland Expo.
“Honestly, that might be the first triple double of my career,” said Jones, the Maine forward who scored 25 points, dished out 10 assists and grabbed 12 rebounds. “I was hoping it would have come in a victory. You’ve got to give a lot of credit to Reno. They came out here and played a terrific game.”
Indeed, the Bighorns (19-28) won for the sixth time in eight games and extended their historical domination of Maine to 9-0. Kendall Marshall led the way with 25 points and 14 assists. Reno hit from deep (16 of 33 for 48.5 percent on 3-point attempts) and forced its way to the foul line (making 28 of 30 free throws to Maine’s 11 for 18).
They took a lead midway through the first quarter, stretched it to 17 in the second (41-24) and in the second half never allowed Maine more than two consecutive baskets.
“They deserve all the credit,” said Red Claws Coach Scott Morrison. “They made tough shots the whole game. They did a good job with their defense, although I thought we scored enough to win. But at the end of the day, I think that their shot-making and their good passing was the difference in the game.”
The Red Claws (28-19) need one more win or one Delaware loss to clinch a third straight Atlantic Division title. They have three games left, in Grand Rapids on Tuesday, in Greensboro on Friday and in Chicago next Sunday.
“We’re not in the playoffs yet,” Morrison said. “I was hoping to get that weight off our shoulders (Sunday). It would have been nice to win in the last (home) game and clinch the playoffs and all those good things, but Reno wasn’t going to give it to us. We’ve got to hope we can get one of these last three.”
Abdel Nader led all scorers with 29 points. Jordan Mickey, on assignment from the Celtics along with point guard Demetrius Jackson, had 22 points and eight rebounds. He also turned the ball over six times, including a particularly unfortunate inbounds pass at the end of the third quarter. Reno’s Isaiah Cousins had just converted a tough drive with 3.6 seconds left. He intercepted Mickey’s pass and hit a jumper to give him four points in 2.2 seconds and lift Reno to a 92-80 lead less than four minutes after Maine had cut the margin to four, at 79-75.
“I was happy with the guys’ effort,” Morrison said. “I think we had some mental lapses at times, leaving some guys open. But overall, every time we got close, we played well on a possession and they hit a tough shot.”
The Claws came no closer than six in the fourth quarter. They did it five times, and each time Reno responded.
Cousins finished with 26 points on 12 of 16 shooting. Will Davis added 20 points off the bench. David Stockton (John’s kid) made five 3-pointers.
“It seemed like they didn’t miss,” said Georges-Hunt, who finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists. “They have nothing to lose. Teams like that, they just go out and play, and play hard.”
NOTES: Guerschon Yabusele, the 16th overall draft pick last June who played in China this winter, watched the game before flying to Ottawa, where he hopes to secure a work visa in time to join the Red Claws for their final two games. “If all goes well,” Morrison said, “he’ll meet us in Greensboro on Tuesday (after the Grand Rapids game).”
Glenn Jordan can be contacted at 791-6425 or
Twitter: GlennJordanPPH
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