Game Preview: Skyforce vs Hustle

Memphis Hustle (23-8)
Last Meeting: W, 119-105 on 3/25/23 in Sioux Falls
Livestream: Baly Sports Sun. (tape delay), NBAGLeague.com
All-Time Record: 7-8
Streak: W2

Tonight's contest with the Memphis Hustle concludes the 2022-23 regular season portion of the schedule, as the Sioux Falls Skyforce heads to the 2023 NBA G League playoffs as the hottest team in the entire league. 

The Force, currently riding a league leading five-game winning streak, defeated the Memphis Hustle 119-105 on Friday night in front of a sold-out crowd at the Sanford Pentagon. 

DJ Stewart and Jamaree Bouyea led Sioux Falls with a combined 43 points on 19-31 FGA, 12 rebounds and 13 assists. The duo also had a combined plus-40 plus-minus in the 119-104 victory on Friday night.

HEAT two-way players Jamal Cain and Orlando Robinson combined for 27 points on 11-20 FGA, 20 rebounds and eight assists as both players notched double doubles. Mychal Mulder secured 15 points on 4-6 3PA, as well. He has 125 3PM in the regular season, which leads the NBA G League. He leads Trevor Hudgins of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers by six 3PM. Hudgins and the Vipers wrap up regular season play today against the Long Island Nets at 7:30 PM CST. 

Memphis Grizzles assignee Jake LaRavia posted 23 of his 25 points in the first half, as he shot 7-11 FGA in the opening 24 minutes. Sioux Falls held LaRavia to two points on 1-7 FGA in the second half. 

Both team's playoff fates are already decided, as Memphis has secured a bye in the opening round of the playoffs. The Skyforce awaits confirmation upon its place in the Western Conference after tonight's match-up against the Hustle. 

THREE THINGS: 
HITTING THE STRIDE AT THE RIGHT TIME
• Sioux Falls has won six-of-seven games and has the longest winning streak in the entire league. 
• During the stretch, the Force has wins over the first seed (Stockton), second seed (Memphis) and third seed (South Bay). 
• Sioux Falls is 4-1 against the top-three teams in the West so far this season, with three of those victories on the road. 

SHARE THE LOVE
• The Force has had 24-plus assists in the last nine games and 30-plus assists in five of those nine.
• They are 13-5 in the regular season when posting 24-plus assists.
 • Sioux Falls is tied for second in the NBA G League in assists in the last nine games with 29.3.

 OFFENSIVE TRENDS
• The Skyforce leads the NBA G League in points per game in the last nine outings (126.2 points per game). 
• They are in the top seven in field goal percentage (third with 51.7 percent) and three-point percentage (seventh with 37.9 percent).
• In the last five games, Sioux Falls leads the league in plus-minus with an average of plus-15.4 and a total of plus-77. They also have an offensive rating of 126.3, which is first in the league, and a net rating of 14.8, which is second.