Maine Celtics eliminated from G League playoffs

No. 7 seed falls to No. 2 Greensboro Swarm in Eastern Conference quarterfinals

Apr. 1, 2026 at 12:48am

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The Maine Celtics were eliminated from the NBA G League playoffs on Tuesday, losing 112-90 to the second-seeded Greensboro Swarm in an Eastern Conference quarterfinal matchup. Greensboro led from start to finish, with five starters scoring in double figures and Marcus Garrett and PJ Hall each scoring 18 points to pace the Swarm.

Why it matters

The Celtics' early playoff exit is a disappointment for the team and its fans, as they were hoping to make a deeper run in the postseason. However, the loss highlights the competitive nature of the G League and the challenges faced by lower-seeded teams in advancing through the playoffs.

The details

The Swarm jumped out to a 39-31 lead after the first quarter and extended their advantage to 59-52 at halftime. Greensboro then broke the game open with a 12-0 run early in the third quarter. In addition to Garrett and Hall's 18 points each, Tosan Evbuomwan, who played nine games for the Celtics this season, added 13 points on 5-for-7 shooting for the Swarm.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.

The players

Marcus Garrett

A guard for the Greensboro Swarm who sparked his team's fast start with 8 points and 5 assists in the first quarter.

PJ Hall

A forward for the Greensboro Swarm who scored 18 points to lead his team.

Tosan Evbuomwan

A player who spent time with the Maine Celtics this season and scored 13 points on 5-for-7 shooting for the Greensboro Swarm.

John Tonje

A player for the Maine Celtics who scored a team-high 22 points in the loss.

Jalen Bridges

A player for the Maine Celtics who made four 3-pointers and finished with 19 points.

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What they’re saying

“We knew Greensboro was a tough team, but we felt we had a good game plan coming in. Unfortunately, we just couldn't execute it for 40 minutes.”

— John Tonje, Maine Celtics player

What’s next

The Celtics' season has now come to an end, while the Swarm will advance to face the winner of the Raptors 905-Long Island Nets series in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The takeaway

The Maine Celtics' early playoff exit is a disappointment, but it highlights the competitive nature of the G League and the challenges faced by lower-seeded teams in advancing through the postseason. The Greensboro Swarm's balanced scoring attack and strong start proved too much for the Celtics to overcome.