Westchester vs. Maine
PORTLAND, Maine (Interstat) — The Westchester Knicks and Maine Celtics will complete a rare G League back-to-back Sunday at the Portland Exposition Building, one day after the Celtics secured a 108-98 victory.
The matchup pits the league’s struggling cellar-dweller against a playoff contender. Westchester (6-24) enters on a four-game losing skid and owns the worst record in the circuit. Maine (19-12) sits firmly in the Eastern Conference’s upper tier and has won eight of its last 11 games.
History heavily favors the home team. The Celtics are 3-0 against the Knicks this season, including Saturday’s win and a pair of victories in New York in late November. The teams will not meet again after Sunday.
A key battle will feature two of the G League’s hottest performers. Westchester’s Pacome Dadiet is coming off a 26-point, 12-rebound effort in Saturday’s loss and has averaged 24.0 points over his last three games. The rookie wing has been a bright spot for the Knicks, who have lost 10 of their last 12.
He will be countered by Maine’s high-scoring guard Ron Harper Jr., who poured in 37 points in a narrow overtime loss to Grand Rapids on Thursday. Harper is averaging 28.0 points over his last two contests and provides consistent two-way production.
Westchester’s challenges are systemic, ranking near the bottom of the league in both offensive and defensive rating. Maine, conversely, boasts a top-five offense and will look to exploit its advantages in depth and efficiency on its home floor.
The game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. EST tip-off. Following the contest, Maine begins a three-game road trip Wednesday at Sioux Falls. Westchester continues a lengthy road stretch with a two-game series at Salt Lake City next Friday and Saturday.