G League Sioux Falls Skyforce

Game Preview: Skyforce at Lakers

Published on March 6, 2023 under NBA G League (G League)
Sioux Falls Skyforce News Release


South Bay Lakers (17-7)

Last Meeting: L, 128-125 on 4/2/22 in El Segundo

Livestream: NBAGLeague.com

All-Time Record: 10-17

Streak: L3

The Sioux Falls Skyforce embarks on a two-game road swing at the South Bay Lakers on Monday and Wednesday after dropping a back-to-back against the Iowa Wolves over the weekend.

HEAT assignee Ömer Yurtseven led the team in scoring in back-to-back games, as he had 28 points and 17 rebounds on Saturday. Two-way player Jamal Cain added 19 points, 12 rebounds and five assists in the loss.

Despite dropping the last two games, the Force still sits in the sixth-and-final Western Conference playoff spot. They have a half-game on the Santa Cruz Warriors and are a game behind the Salt Lake City Stars for the fifth spot.

Last season, the Skyforce dropped a back-to-back in South Bay to finish the season. Sam Thompson secured a career-high27 points in the loss. A win tonight would be the first at the UCLA Health Training Center since 2/24/18, where Derrick Jones Jr. powered the Force to a 123-112 victory with 30 points. Kadeem Jack added 12 points and 13 rebounds in the victory.

South Bay comes into the contest with Sioux Falls as one of the hottest teams in the Western Conference. They have won a conference high six-straight games and are in the third seed in the West. Just one game separates them from the top seeded Stockton Kings.

The Lakers swept the Maine Celtics over the weekend, topped by a 114-98 victory on Saturday. Lakers two-way player Scottie Pippen, Jr. secured 34 points on 10-18 FGA and five rebounds off the bench in the victory.

They come into the contest ranked second in points per game (122.7) and first in field goal percentage (51.9 percent) in the NBA G League. Their 20.6 fast break points per game is also good for first in the G League.

The Skyforce acquired guard Galen Robinson, Jr. off waivers on Sunday and the three-year G League veteran is expected to be available tonight. Both teams meet again on Wednesday night, with tip-off slated for 9:00 PM CST.

TWO THINGS:

DISHIN' IT OUT

-The Skyforce posted a season-high 37 assists on Saturday and also had 32 on Friday against Iowa.

- Three players had career highs in assists on Saturday: Jon Elmore (16), Mychal Mulder (8) and Jamal Cain (5).

- Elmore's 16 assists are good for eighth all-time in Skyforce history and is one of 29 players in franchise history to secure 15+ assists in a game.

NIKOLA'S RETURN

- Miami HEAT assignee Nikola Jović returns to the Skyforce after missing part of the regular season with an injury.

- The 2022 NBA first round pick has appeared in five Showcase Cup games and averaged 7.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists per 29.9 minutes a game.

- Sioux Falls is 5-1 this season when Nikola plays.

- He has had 10+ rebounds in three of six games this season with the Force.

Check out the Sioux Falls Skyforce Statistics

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NBA G League Stories from March 6, 2023


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