Game Preview: Skyforce at Blue
February 28, 2023 - NBA G League (G League)
Sioux Falls Skyforce News Release
Oklahoma City Blue (9-14)
Last Meeting: 112-108 on 12/27/22 in Oklahoma City
Livestream: NBAGLeague.com
All-Time Record: 8-13
Streak: L3
The Sioux Falls Skyforce travels to face the Oklahoma City Blue in yet another pivotal Western Conference matchup with playoff implications.
They will look to benefit from the start of a stretch where six of the next eight Skyforce opponents have a record under .500.
The Force, fresh off a 118-109 victory over Mexico City on Thursday looks to head back to the Sanford Pentagon this weekend with three wins in the last four games and on a five-game home winning streak. Justin Champagnie and Mychal Mulder led Sioux Falls with 42 points, while Jamaree Bouyea added 16 points, seven rebounds and nine assists in his return to the team.
The Skyforce looks to snap a three-game losing streak to the Blue, as the team dropped a 112-108 contest in both team's first game of the regular season.
Mychal Mulder led the team with 23 points on 6-15 3PA, while Kadeem Jack (18 points and 11 rebounds), Jamaree Bouyea (14 points and 10 rebounds) and Dru Smith (18 points and 10 assists) each had a double-double in the loss.
The Blue is currently on a two-game winning streak after dropping five in a row in February. They defeated the College Park Skyhawks 116-104 on Sunday afternoon.
It was a balanced effort, as five players had 17-plus points as Adam Mokoka led the way with 23 points, while Chasson Randle added 20 points on 6-10 FGA. The Blue scored 32 points off 24 Skyhawks' points, while also having 21 second chance points.
Sioux Falls currently sits in the sixth-and-final Western Conference playoff spot with 11 games left. They are currently just four games back of the first overall seed and a half-game back of the Salt Lake City Stars for the fifth seed.
The team returns home this weekend to face the Iowa Wolves (6-15) on Friday and Saturday, with tip-off slated for 7:00PM CST.
TWO THINGS:
CAIN IMPACTS WINNING
Sioux Falls is 12-6 combined this season when Jamal Cain has been transferred to the team.
He has scored over 20 points and shot over 50% in six of seven games in the regular season. Despite playing in just seven games in the regular season, Cain leads the Skyforce in double doubles (four). He ranks fifth among all two-way players, averaging 24.4 points per game. Only Carlik Jones, who ranks second, has more games played than Cain on that list, as well. Cain and Luka Garza are the only two-way players in the regular season to average 24+ points and 10+ rebounds. Garza has only suited up for the Iowa Wolves in two games this season.
WEST WARRIORS
The Sioux Falls Skyforce is 11-4 against the Western Conference this season.
The Skyforce has won five of their last six games against teams in the West. All 11 remaining games are against Western Conference foes.
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