Stingers face Winnipeg Sea Bears to open a four-game homestand
Stingers Rematch Sea Bears
The Edmonton Stingers start a four-game homestand tonight against the Winnipeg Sea Bears (5-5) at Edmonton EXPO Centre with tip-off at 4 p.m MT.
The Stingers are back at the EXPO Centre after a thrilling 98-95 win over the Calgary Surge in Red Deer to cap off a three-game road trip.
Edmonton will look to continue its winning ways tonight and make it two in a row against Winnipeg.
The player who could be key to making that all happen is Scottie Lindsey. The guard has been on fire after his 23-point night that led Edmonton to a win over Ottawa on June 10, recording 20+ points in each of his past three games.
But don't overlook Edmonton's leading scorer, Sean East II. While Lindsey has stepped up immensely to become a crucial part of the Stingers' offence, East II is having an MVP-worthy campaign and is in the top three in points per game this season. Another stellar three-point performance from Lindsey and East II could be in store for tonight.
The Sea Bears roll into Edmonton red hot after a 92-85 win against Vancouver on Friday to extend their winning streak to four games.
A major part of the Sea Bears' success recently is thanks to Jalen Harris. Over his past five games, the guard leads the team's starters in points per game with 19.4 and three-point percentage, shooting 36.8 per cent from beyond the arc.
Harris is coming off a 22-point night in Vancouver and has recorded 20+ points in each of the past three games. Expect to see plenty of Edmonton's best defenders tonight match up with him to try and limit his production.
When looking at Winnipeg's stats on the road this season, the Sea Bears have struggled on offence. Winnipeg allows a league-worst average of 78.5 points per game and struggles to shoot the ball, holding the worst field goal percentage with 38.4 per cent and the third-lowest three-point percentage with 29.5 per cent.
Compare that to Edmonton's 92.8 points per game at home this season and 37.9 per cent from three and 46.7 per cent from the field--Edmonton is top two in the league for each category--and the advantage heavily tilts Edmonton's way on offence.
But don't forget about defence. Winnipeg allows 86.3 points per game on the road, and at home this season, Edmonton also gives up 86.3 points per game.
Going back to when these teams previously met this season on May 16, at the Canada Life Centre, where Winnipeg won 92-89, it was free throws and bench points that made the difference.
The Sea Bears knocked down 20/26 free throws compared to the Stingers' 15/18, and Edmonton's bench was outscored 17-10. Evening up those two stat lines would go a long way in getting a win tonight for the Stingers.
Coming off a 93-74 win in Edmonton's last home game against Ottawa, where the Stingers shot 50 per cent from three as a team, the momentum is on Edmonton's side in this one. They will try to add on to that three-point performance tonight and halt the red-hot Sea Bears to improve to 4-1 in their last five.
Keys to the game
Can Edmonton continue to stay hot from three?
Force Winnipeg into taking difficult shots.
Can Scottie Lindsey continue to lead with Sean East II on offence?