PORTLAND — After a brutal defeat on Friday night, the Maine Celtics were back in action for a Sunday matinee against the very same Westchester Knicks who bested them two days prior. For most of the night, a lot of the same issues persisted. Moses Brown dominated the offensive glass, and the Knicks got good looks inside. But Maine adjusted, and their adjustments made this one a much closer contest.
A monster offensive performance from JD Davison led the charge for Maine. They were combatting Brown’s big-time rebounding numbers all afternoon, and by the time the game was wrapping up, both sides were going back and forth. In the end, Maine walked away with a 118-110 win, bouncing back from a tough showing on Friday.
Here are three studs and three duds from the Celtics’ win over the Knicks on Sunday.
Stud - JD Davison
After a relatively quiet night during his record-breaking performance on Friday, Davison turned up the heat on Sunday afternoon. The now-Maine legend was unstoppable driving to the rim.
No matter what Westchester defender stepped in front of him, Davison was able to get to the rack. His slow step on the drive sent the Knicks flying, leaving him a clear airway for an open layup.
His rebounding and playmaking were impressive, too, but Davison’s scoring stood out most in this game. He was the most effective scorer on either side of the floor.
Everything Davison touched turned to gold on Sunday afternoon.
Dud - Jay Scrubb
There isn't much more to say about Jay Scrubb's performance other than that he was cold. Nothing was calling for the score-first guard who is usually money from most spots on the floor.
Scrubb thrives as a microwave scorer who can get hot in an instant. He showcased that skill set on Friday night in the second half. But he didn't have that same success on Sunday. He went 0-for-5 on the day.
Stud - Hason Ward
Though the box score may not tell the whole story, Hason Ward is a very interesting prospect for the Celtics to keep an eye on. The main reason why? He can jump.
Ward’s insane hops give him a massive advantage on both ends of the floor, whether it’s crashing the glass or soaring through the sky for a huge block at the rim.
His scoring stats don’t reflect the impact Ward made on this game when he was on the floor. When Ward was providing help defense in the paint, the Knicks were stifled. And he did a good job guarding one-on-one drives, too.
The offensive rebounds he snagged were crucial to the Celtics’ success, too.
Maine ran a bunch of lineups with Dmytro Skapintsev or with one of Tristan Enaruna or Watson at the five, but Ward was great when he got in the game.
Dud - Drew Peterson
This was a very weird game for Drew Peterson. A hot third quarter wiped away a lot of the downside, but it was still a relatively rough night for a guy expected to be one of Maine’s top dogs this year.
Peterson saw some success with the three-ball in the third, but for the most part, he had an inefficient afternoon. He helped out on the glass and dished out some assists, but the turnovers were the roughest part of Peterson’s performance.
Whether it was a rushed decision or a drive into traffic, he was just a bit too loose with the ball at times. It wasn’t a horrible showing for Peterson, but considering his status as a two-way guy, Maine should want more.
Stud - Baylor Scheierman
Outside of an uncharacteristic air-ball in the third, Baylor Scheierman was an offensive engine for the Celtics on Sunday afternoon, especially in the first half. Though his three-point shot cold in the third quarter and early fourth, he was doing a bit of everything for Boston in the first.
Scheierman’s red-hot stretch helped give the Celtics a bit of breathing room (although the Knicks brought things back in the third). He was making shots all over the floor and setting up his teammates at the same time.
But perhaps the most impressive part of Scheierman’s game was his rebounding. Scheierman is obsessed with rebounding. There’s no other way to describe it. He was a huge help to Maine on the offensive glass, and he was crashing well on the other end, too.
The rookie’s defense still needs some serious work, especially when guarding drives, but his offense showed some promise on Sunday, and he even hit the dagger three late in the fourth.
Dud - Tristan Enaruna
Enaruna did some good things on Sunday afternoon. His on-ball defense was decent, and he threw down a monster slam, but overall, he looks a bit out of place at times.
Enaruna’s three-point shot is the definition of a work in progress. He air-balled an open shot in the first half, and by the time the second game came around, he was looking to drive rather than shoot.
He’s an athletic forward with solid size, but his relative lack of an offensive game, combined with some shaky off-ball defense, made for a questionable outing.