In the middle of the second quarter of Game 3 of the Finals, the Maine Celtics were slightly behind the Oklahoma City Blue, with the score at 42-40. Maine’s coach, Blaine Mueller, remarked that the team was feeling the pressure and had some trouble making shots early on, yet the game remained up for grabs with half the quarter still to play.
However, the game took a dramatic turn as Oklahoma City went on a stunning 28-0 scoring spree, overwhelming the full house at the Portland Expo and establishing a substantial 23-point lead by halftime, which later expanded to 30 points in the third quarter. Although Maine managed to reduce the gap to 15 points later in the game, they couldn’t mount a significant comeback, largely due to the decisive run in the second quarter. They did, however, manage to rally briefly in the second half, much to the delight of their supporters.
Post-game, Coach Mueller reflected that apart from the decisive five-minute period, the teams were evenly matched, as was expected. Despite their efforts, Maine finished their season as runner-up, marking their first trip to the Finals, while Oklahoma City captured their first championship title in the franchise’s history. Ousmane Dieng of the Blue was named Finals MVP.
Maine’s two-way point guard JD Davison led his team with a strong performance, scoring 22 points, delivering 10 assists, and making four steals. His teammate Drew Peterson also contributed with 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists. Both faced the media together after the game, while celebrations erupted from the Blue’s locker room.
Throughout the game, Maine struggled offensively, evidenced by their 42.6% field goal shooting and 28.2% from three-point range, contributing to their defeat. DJ Steward, key in earlier playoff victories, had a tough game, scoring only 5 points.
The Celtics also faced challenges with player fitness; Neemias Queta and Jordan Walsh played despite recent heavy schedules and health issues. Queta, despite battling illness, managed to play significant minutes and was relatively effective during his time on the court. However, Mueller pointed out that the team’s overall shooting issues weren’t due to fatigue but possibly due to nervousness and the high stakes of the game.
For Oklahoma City, the victory was a team effort with six players scoring in double digits. Dieng led with 25 points, and Jahmi’us Ramsey contributed 18 points from the bench. The addition of Lindy Waters III proved pivotal for the Blue, making a significant impact in the final two games of the series.
