Swarm Secures First-Ever Playoff Win, Defeats No. 7 Seed Maine Celtics

GREENSBORO, NC – The Greensboro Swarm, the NBA G League affiliate of the Charlotte Hornets, secured the franchise’s first-ever playoff win, defeating the seventh-seeded Maine Celtics wire-to-wire, 112-90, to open the NBA G League Playoffs presented by Google.

Playing in its first-ever home playoff game Tuesday, Greensboro earned home-court advantage after placing a 24-12 record in the regular season, while Maine notched an 18-18 record in the span. With the win, the No. 2-seeded Greensboro Swarm will return to Novant Health Fieldhouse on Friday to host its NBA G League Eastern Conference Semifinal matchup against the winner of the Cleveland Charge (3) and Capital City Go-Go (6). 

Defensive prowess and ball movement led the way Tuesday, as Greensboro held Maine to the fewest points scored against the Swarm this season while also placing 20 assists in the game.

All five Swarm starters finished in double figures, led by 18 points apiece from PJ Hall and Marcus Garrett. Jaylen Sims added 16 points, while Tidjane Salaün recorded a game-high 11 rebounds to go along with nine points. Greensboro shot 48.8% (42-of-86) from the field and 36.1% (13-of-36) from beyond the arc.

Maine was led by 22 points from John Tonje, while Jalen Bridges added 19 points on an efficient 7-of-11 shooting, including 4-of-8 from three. Amari Williams provided a spark off the bench with 15 points, eight rebounds and four assists, and Hason Ward chipped in nine points and seven boards. Keon Johnson, who led the team in scoring in March, closed the night with eight points on 3-of-17 shooting.

As a team, the Celtics shot 40.2% (33-of-82) from the field and 34.3% (12-of-35) from beyond the arc.

Greensboro opened the contest on a 9-2 run, inflating its margin to a double-digit, 16-5, edge through the first four minutes. The Swarm’s early attack featured balanced scoring early, highlighted by a three-pointer from former Maine Celtic Tosan Evbuomwan. Maine trimmed the deficit to as little as one in the opening frame, but Greensboro responded with timely baskets to take a 39-31 lead after one.

Despite the Celtics shooting 54.5% (12-of-22) from the floor and 60% (6-of-10) from three in the first quarter, the Swarm offset the efficiency by getting to the line, converting 11 points from the free-throw line compared to Maine’s one.

Greensboro pushed its lead back to double digits early in the second quarter, growing the advantage to as many as 13 before a 13-2 Maine run cut the margin to a single possession. The teams traded baskets down the stretch of the half, with the Swarm carrying a 59-52 lead into the break. PJ Hall and Liam McNeeley paced Greensboro with 12 points apiece at halftime.

Out of the locker room, Greensboro delivered the decisive stretch of the game. The Swarm opened the third quarter on an 8-2 run and used a 27-13 period to extend the lead to 86-65 entering the fourth. It held its ground in the final 12 minutes, building its lead as large as 26 points. Next up, the Swarm return to Novant Health Fieldhouse for its NBA G League Eastern Conference Semifinals clash versus the Cleveland Charge (3) or Capital City Go-Go (6). With the game’s time to be announced, fans can lock in their seats here.