Game Preview: Greensboro Swarm Set for First-Ever Home Playoff Game Against Maine Celtics

GREENSBORO, N.C. - The Greensboro Swarm will face the Maine Celtics in the first round of the 2025-2026 NBA G League Playoffs presented by Google Tuesday night. This matchup marks just the second playoff appearance in the Swarm’s history and its first ever playoff home game.  

This season's playoff format will feature four rounds and 16 total teams, the eight top teams from the Eastern Conference and the eight top teams from the Western Conference. This is a change from previous years, which featured six teams per conference and saw the top two teams from each conference receive a bye into the second round. The playoffs will begin with three single-elimination rounds before culminating with a best-of-three NBA G League Finals in April.  

The Swarm fell to the Indiana Mad Ants (current Noblesville Boom) 120-110 in the first round of last year’s playoffs, despite a strong 25-point contribution from Jaylen Sims.  

Maine is an all-too-familiar opponent for Greensboro. They’ve met four times prior this season, two in the regular season and Tip-Off Tournament, tied for the most matchups of any opponent in the league. The Swarm are a promising 3-1 in those matchups. The Celtics got the win in its most recent clash, propelled by 34 points from current Swarm two-way forward Tosan Evbuomwan. Twenty-three points from Greensboro veteran Jaylen Sims gave the Swarm the win in the game prior. Greensboro’s pair of Tip-Off Tournament wins were headlined by 26 points off the bench for Terrell Brown Jr. and then 22 points for Antonio Reeves. 

The Swarm’s ball handlers won’t be in for an easy night, the Celtics rank third in the G League for steals per game (10.4). Maine guard Hayden Gray ranks fourth league-wide in steals per game (min. 20 GP). 

Greensboro’s roster is led by Two-Way Players PJ Hall, Antonio Reeves and Tosan Evbuomwan, with frequent appearances from Hornets first-round picks Liam McNeeley and Tidjane Salaun. The Swarm have been bolstered by significant contributions from All-Time games, points and assists leader Jaylen Sims, G League Up Next Game selectee Jonas Aidoo, Marcus Garrett, Terrell Brown Jr. and Josiah Allick. Mid-season acquisitions Caleb Grill, Evan Gilyard, Jaire Grayer and Trevon Duval continue to make an impact. Second year head coach and all-time Swarm wins leader DJ Bakker will look to continue pushing the team forward. 

Maine’s roster features Two-Way players Ron Harper Jr. and John Tonje. Harper has made 25 appearances for the Celtics this season and is averaging a G League team-high 24.3 points per game this season. Tonje is the team’s second leading scorer averaging 18.1 points. Keon Johnson, a 4-year NBA veteran who most recently averaged over 10 points in 79 appearances for the Brooklyn Nets, provides valuable support. Max Shulga has been lighting teams up from downtown as just one of 12 players in the league shooting at least 40% on six or more 3-point attempts per game (min. 20 GP). Rookie Amari Williams has been dominating the glass and ranks top 10 in the NBA G League in rebounds per game (10.9). It’s a debut season for head coach Phil Pressey, who previously worked as a Boston Celtics assistant for 2 years. This will be the seventh playoff appearance in the Celtics’ history and fourth straight. 

The Swarm tip-off the 2026 playoffs at 6:30 PM at the Novant Health Fieldhouse. The game can be watched on Samsung TV. If the Swarm win, they’ll play its second-round matchup on Friday, April 3.  Tickets can be purchased here.