Game Preview: Skyforce @ Wolves

Last Meeting: W, 157-156 on 2/3/24 in Des Moines, IA

Live Stream: NBAGLeague.com

All-Time Record: 38-52

Streak: W1

The Skyforce looks to sweep the Iowa Wolves on the road for the first time since the 2019-20 season and produce their fourth two-plus game road winning streak of the season. 

Sioux Falls erased a 23-point fourth quarter deficit to secure a 157-156 victory on Saturday evening from Wells Fargo Arena. 

Alondes Williams finished with 39 points on 13-21 FGA (4-8 3PA), seven rebounds and six assists for Sioux Falls (12-3). HEAT two-way player RJ Hampton posted a season-high 27 points on 10-15 FGA, six rebounds and six assists. Jamaree Bouyea finished with 20 points on 7-12 FGA (4-7 3PA) and 11 rebounds in the victory.

Justin Champagnie finished with 22 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Caleb Daniels added 19 points on 7-10 FGA to round out top scorers for the Skyforce. 

Iowa shot 59% from the field and 52.6% from beyond the arc, as 9-of-10 players to play made a three-point bucket. They also produced 44 assists to just 17 turnovers. 

Javonte Cooke had a game-high 41 points on 8-11 3PA, while Stephenson contributed added 22 points. Timberwolves assignees Leonard Miller and Josh Minott combined for 44 points in the loss. 

Another series with deep Western Conference playoff implications looms for the Skyforce after the contest with the Wolves, as they host the Rip City Remix (9-5) on Friday and Saturday from the Sanford Pentagon. 

Rip City faces the Motor City Cruise tonight at 6:00 PM CST and has currently won 7-of-9 games, including a road series split with the RGV Vipers. 

MAN(MAN) OF THE MONTH

· He led the team with 25.7 points on 56.5 percent shooting (46.2 percent from beyond the arc), 5.3 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.5 steals per 39.9 minutes in 10 starts during January. 

·Williams broke Sioux Falls’ franchise record for points in a game, with 55 points on 21-30 FGA, while adding eight rebounds and eight assists on Jan. 7 against Salt Lake City. He compiled back-to-back NBA G League Player of the Week awards from Jan.  2-7 and Jan. 8-13 and had two 20-plus-point double doubles to help lead the Skyforce to a 9-0 start to the regular season. 

· He ranked second in the NBA G League in total points (257), third in field goal makes (96) and his 25.7 points per game ranked first in the league for players that have played in five-plus games in the month. 

BOUYEA'S BUZZER BEATER

· Sioux Falls put up 50 points in the fourth quarter and took its first lead since early in the first quarter with 2:21 left in the game. Stephenson sunk a corner three with 0.8 seconds remaining to give Iowa a 156-154 lead. Bouyea came off a screen at the top of the key from 30-feet out and sunk the shot to secure the second-straight victory.  

· He has netted four 3PM in three-straight games and is shooting 59.5 3P% (3.1/5.3 3PA) in his last seven games (51.9% from the field).

PUSHIN' POINTS

· The Sioux Falls Skyforce broke an NBA G League era franchise record for points on Saturday, going for 157. They were also just four points shy of a franchise record for baskets made in a quarter (54), as the Force had 50 points in the fourth against Iowa.