Maine Red Claws (7-1) vs. Fort Wayne Mad Ants (3-5)

7:30PM, Portland Expo, Portland, Maine

Tonight, in their third home game, the Maine Red Claws face off against the Fort Wayne (Indiana) Mad Ants. The Ants are associated with the Pacers (9-15), Pistons (11-15), and Bucks (11-13). In their last game, Fort Wayne fell to the Springfield Armor (1-7) 112-107 in OT, giving Springfield their first win of the season.

Not surprisingly, the Mad Ants have yet to see any NBA assignees. The Red Claws, of course, have three: Lester Hudson and Bill Walker from the Celtics plus Alexis Ajinca from the Charlotte Bobcats. Ajinka had an impressive performance in the last Claws game Thursday night, and Hudson has been tearing it up during his short sojourn to the D-League. Hudson is expected to return to the Celtics tomorrow for the 6PM Milwaukee Bucks game, but he’ll no doubt end up in Maine again later this season. For now, though, this could be Hudson’s only home game in a Claws uniform.

Without any NBA assignees, the Ants’ leaders are F Ron Howard and F Rob Kurz, with C Jared Reiner putting up some number as well. Reiner and Kurz have NBA experience. Kurz was with LA’s Other Team last year, and Reiner has had a number of NBA contracts but hasn’t played in many actual games. In last night’s game it was Kurz and G Kyle McAlerney leading the way.

The Red Claws shouldn’t take Fort Wayne lightly. The question for the Mad Ants will be whether they’ll be tired or hungry after their OT loss the night before.