Stingers Look For Fifth Straight Win Against Surge

The Stingers will conclude their four-game homestand at the Edmonton EXPO Centre tonight with a Battle of Alberta matchup against the Calgary Surge (9-4) at 4:00 p.m MT. 

Edmonton is currently the hottest team in the CEBL, boasting a 6-1 record in their last seven games and riding a four-game win streak. The Stingers defeated the Calgary Surge 98-85 in their recent run of dominance on June 19 in Red Deer. Edmonton will look to do the same again tonight at the EXPO Centre and win their fifth consecutive game. 

In this 6-1 run for the Stingers, there has been no one who has stood out more than Sean East II. His 24.6 points per game lead the team and rank him second in the CEBL, behind only Terquavion Smith, who leads the league with 25.7 points. East II is also coming off back-to-back 30+ point performances--including a season high 35-point night against Montreal on Canada Day. 

And while East II stole the show, Scottie Lindsey also put on a stellar performance, dropping 19 points and three three-pointers against Montreal. Lindsey has been the team's most reliable secondary scorer behind East II this season, even though the Stingers' offence has seen a lot of players set up recently off the bench. 

In a tight matchup against Calgary, these two will have to lead the offence and open up opportunities for others, continuing the committee approach Edmonton has utilized on the homestand. Watch for East II and Lindsey to steal the show once again if the Stingers are to defeat their southern rival for the second time this season. 

The Surge will close out their three-game road trip tonight as they arrive in Edmonton for their second meeting of the season at the EXPO Centre after defeating Brampton 94-85 on July 3. 

Calgary has an elite offence of its own, led by a trio of players: Greg Brown III, Jameer Nelson Jr., and Sean Miller-Moore. 

Calgary's leading scorer in the past five games, Greg Brown III, is averaging 22.8 points, 2.6 three-pointers, and 2.2 assists. Brown III posted 19 points and 10 rebounds in the win over Brampton and will be the primary focus of Edmonton's defence tonight. 

But, the true heart of the Surge offence lies in its second and third options on offence. 

Jameer Nelson Jr. and Sean Miller-Moore have also been on a hot streak. Over the past five games, the pair are averaging a combined 38.6 points per game and 8.4 assists per game. They have been a significant reason why Calgary is one of the best teams in the CEBL lately. 

The Surge are second-best in the league, behind only Edmonton, in points per game with 94.4, make the fourth most field goals per game with 33.4 and are top two in steals and blocks per game. Calgary will be Edmonton's most formidable challenge yet on the homestand; however, the Stingers are just as hot as the Surge have been in their past five games.

Edmonton leads the league in points per game with 95.8, field goals made per game with 35.8, field goal percentage and has the fourth highest three-point percentage with 38.3. Not to mention, the Stingers also allow the third fewest points per game, with 87.8, and are averaging a second-best 9.6 steals per game, trailing only Calgary.

Last time these two teams met, in Red Deer on June 19, it was Edmonton that was victorious, avenging their season-opening loss to the Surge at the EXPO Centre. But, both times these teams have met this year, it has come down to the wire. On May 11 and June 19, each team's lead was only within one possession. Expect another tight game between these two rivals as the Stingers try to secure their fifth consecutive win and close out the homestand with a perfect 4-0 record.

To do so, Edmonton will need to bring their A-game tonight as the third and final edition of the Battle of Alberta gets underway at the EXPO Centre.

Keys to the game

Limiting turnovers and easy buckets for Calgary.

Calgary has shut down Edmonton's three-point shooting to below 30% in both games this season. Find the open man and capitalize on those opportunities.

Continue using an offence-by-committee approach for Edmonton.