Maine Celtics, Neemias Queta blow out OKC Blue in Game 1 of G-League Finals 

It was utter domination from begin to end, because the Maine Celtics took a 19-point lead over the Oklahoma Metropolis Blue within the first quarter and by no means appeared again.

Now, they’re one win away from the primary G-League championship in franchise historical past.

JD Davison led the best way with 23 factors and 12 assists, whereas Neemias Queta – lower than 24 hours after signing a standard deal – had 20 factors (9/11 FG), 13 rebounds, and three blocks.

“[We] simply got here out with a way of urgency, and an power, particularly defensively,” Maine Celtics head coach Blaine Mueller stated of the crew’s scorching begin.

The Celtics had been extraordinarily linked all evening, holding the Blue to only 35.1% capturing, and of observe, just one OKC participant shot higher than 42% from the sector. It definitely didn’t assist OKC that Keyontae Johnson injured his again simply 4 minutes to play and missed the remainder of the evening.

Maine was energetic defensively, ending the sport with 11 steals and eight blocks (compared, OKC had simply 5 shares).

“We’re a defensive-oriented crew,” stated Drew Peterson, who grabbed three steals. “To have a man like Neemy within the again line to guard the rim, after which we get out and run… JD is such a very good distributor and all of us play our roles very nicely.”

Neemias Queta stated the protection has improved tremendously over the previous few weeks because the crew has gelled and gotten to know one another’s tendencies. Backing up Queta is Kylor Kelley, who was the main shot-blocker within the G-League this season.

“It additionally helps rather a lot that our second unit is absolutely good defensively, so we are able to hold going and keep the identical stage of protection throughout the entire recreation,” Queta stated. “That’s a giant key for us.”

Notably, after struggling for the primary two postseason video games, Peterson had a breakout first quarter, ending with 13 factors within the opening interval because the Celtics took a 33-14 lead. He ended the evening with 20 factors, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and a game-high +/- of +25.

Mueller stated Peterson performed a extra assertive recreation, whereas Peterson credited his teammates for feeding the new hand and permitting completely different guys to step up every evening.

“It’s simply so big that we have now guys that may actually fill their position on our crew,” Peterson stated. “That’s so necessary to the group right here, and even in Boston, that’s one thing they emphasize high to backside. It trickles down right here with guys that fill a task and might have their large evening on any given evening — so with some guys off, the following man steps up.”

Jordan Walsh added 15 factors (together with 3-4 from three), 6 rebounds, 3 steals, and a couple of blocks – capped off by a breakaway windmill dunk that put OKC away for good after a fourth quarter Blue run minimize the result in 15.

“These large moments – I’m glad I obtained to steal a few these passes, and the crew was comfortable. I used to be loving it,” Walsh stated. “Simply to have the ability to put the crew away in these moments, it’s an important feeling.”

Queta stated he hopes he and Walsh could be teammates for a very long time. With each now inking commonplace multi-year offers with the Celtics, that hope may very well be actuality.

“Jordan has the power to make a few performs that flip the momentum of a recreation, and that was certainly one of them,” Queta stated. “To have the ability to develop round him, and seeing him develop this 12 months, throughout his rookie 12 months, has been wonderful. I really feel like he’s obtained a lot extra potential for what we are able to do, so I’m excited to see him develop, and hopefully sooner or later, we carry on taking part in collectively for a very long time.”

The environment on the Expo was electrical from tip-off till the ultimate buzzer sounded. Mueller famous you need to give followers one thing to have a good time; final evening’s recreation had no scarcity of these moments.

Mike Zarren, VP of Basketball Operations, and Allison Feaster, VP of Crew Operations and Organizational Progress, had been each at Sunday’s Japanese Convention Finals win over the Lengthy Island Nets. This time, it was Brad Stevens who was sitting by the Maine Celtics bench to observe the franchise’s first-ever G-League Finals recreation.

“Brad’s phenomenal – phenomenal chief, phenomenal coach, phenomenal president,” Mueller stated, including that his boss’s presence on the sideline made him slightly nervous. “Supporting our guys, it’s actually cool for him to come back up right here particularly with Neemy simply signing, to be right here for him, Jordan Walsh, JD [Davison], Drew [Peterson].”

Gamers had been excited by the win postgame, however overwhelmingly acknowledged that the job isn’t performed. Recreation 2 of the best-of-three sequence will probably be in Oklahoma Metropolis on Thursday evening at 8 pm ET, and if the Celtics win that one, they gained’t even have to come back again to the Portland Expo. In the event that they lose, they’ll be again in entrance of their house crowd on Monday hoping to seal the deal.

“We’re not overly celebrating – we obtained yet one more to go – but it surely’s thrilling for us,” Peterson stated.

A whole lot of the crew’s success has needed to do with the selflessness of the roster and their willingness to place the crew forward of their very own particular person efficiency. Lots it has to do with the veterans within the locker room, guys like Tony Snell, who solely performed 13 minutes final evening however continues to mentor the youthful guys on the crew.

“Tony is a giant a part of my development,” Walsh stated. “Our lockers are proper subsequent to one another. We’re most likely the closest on the crew – at all times speaking, at all times with one another, at all times doing one thing. To have the ability to take data from him, it’s positively somebody I look as much as. He’s been the place I need to go.”

Queta credited every particular person participant’s prioritization of successful for serving to domesticate such a selfless setting.

“All the fellows on the crew, they’ve been part of successful groups, successful cultures, whether or not it’s in school, highschool, wherever it was, within the league, again within the day,” Queta stated. “All of us perceive the sense of urgency that we have to have, and the way we have now to sacrifice for one another to ensure that us to get a championship.”

After beginning the season with an 11-11 file, few may have predicted the Maine Celtics would now be one win away from a championship. However contemplate Jordan Walsh one of many early believers.

“Now we have a very good crew, good workers, so it’s no shock that we’re within the place we’re in,” Walsh stated. “There’s so many good folks surrounding myself. It’s no shock.”