Game Preview: Skyforce @ Lakers

South Bay Lakers (17-8)
Last Meeting: W, 135-133 on 3/6/23 in El Segundo
Livestream: ESPN+
All-Time Record: 11-17
Streak: W1  

The Sioux Falls Skyforce earned arguably the biggest win of the Kasib Powell era on Monday night with a 135-133 comeback victory over the South Bay Lakers, which snapped a Western Conference leading six-game win streak. The victory marked the first in El Segundo, CA for the Skyforce since Feb. 2018 and snapped a three-game losing streak to the Lakers. A win tonight would be the first sweep on the road of South Bay since Sioux Falls joined the Western Conference. 

Mychal Mulder (36 points on 10-15 3PA and seven assists) and DJ Stewart (36 points on 15-23 FGA and six assists) combined for 72 points, as they powered Sioux Falls in what was a 14-point comeback and game that had 30 lead changes and nine ties. 

Justin Champagnie netted 20 of his 23 points in the second half, as he shot 10-15 FGA and added 14 rebounds. His impact helped the Force outscore the Lakers 73-58 in the second half, as Sioux Falls shot 56.5 percent (26-46 FGA) from the field and 52.9 percent from deep (10-19 3PA) in the half to secure the second-straight road win.  In his first game back with Sioux Falls since the beginning of the regular season, HEAT assignee Nikola Jović had 12 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two blocks in 25:33 minutes off the bench. 

Seven South Bay players scored 13-plus points, as Shaq Harrison led the way with 26 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists. The Skyforce limited Lakers two-way player Scottie Pippen, Jr. to just four points on 1-7 FGA. Assignee Max Christie had 16 points on 6-14 FGA and two rebounds. 

With the victory Monday, Sioux Falls retained a game lead over the Ontario Clippers for the sixth seed in the West. The Skyforce sits just a game behind Salt Lake City for fifth and two games behind the Mexico City Capitanes for the fourth seed. 

Sioux Falls returns home to face the Austin Spurs (7-18) on Sunday, with tip-off slated for 3:00 PM CST at the Sanford Pentagon. South Bay hosts the Stockton Kings (19-6) at 7:00 PM CST from the UCLA Health Training Center on Saturday.

FOUR THINGS:

COMEBACK KIDS
•The Skyforce erased a 13-point deficit at halftime, which marks the biggest comeback at intermission for Sioux Falls in the Kasib Powell era. 

MONEY MYKE MULDER
• For the second time in the last two seasons, Mychal Mulder has netted 10+ 3PM. He secured the franchise record last March in Rio Grande Valley, surpassing Head Coach Kasib Powell's previous record.
• He has 104 3PM on the year for the Skyforce, which ranks first in the NBA G League by 11 3PM.
• He is one-of-four players in the NBA G League with 70+ 3PM and shooting above 40 percent from deep. No player on that list has more than 88 3PM. 
• He has had 10+ rebounds in three of six games this season with the Force. 

DJ DOES IT AGAIN
• For the first time since 1/15, DJ Stewart scored 30+ points. 
• The Skyforce is 9-1 this season between the Showcase Cup and regular season when Stewart scores 27+ points and is 12-4 all-time.

ELMORE FILLING THE ROLE
 • Jon Elmore has paced the Skyforce in the last three games he has entered the starting lineup. 
• In the last three games, he currently leads the NBA G League with 11.0 assists per game and has a league leading 33 assists.