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MONTREAL (Interstat) — The Ottawa Blackjacks visit the Montreal Alliance on Friday night at Verdun Auditorium in a Canadian Elite Basketball League matchup with playoff implications for both sides.

Ottawa (11-12) enters the 7 p.m. EDT tipoff having won three of its past four games, including a 102-89 victory at Scarborough on July 18. Montreal (10-16) has lost four straight and seven of its past eight contests, most recently an 80-109 defeat at Winnipeg on July 19.

Guard Javonte Smart has been Ottawa’s catalyst, averaging 29.3 points over his past three outings. He scored 38 points with six rebounds and six assists in the Blackjacks’ 104-77 home victory over Montreal on July 8 (Interstat) — Ottawa’s largest win of the season. Smart also posted 29 points, eight rebounds and five assists in the win at Scarborough. For the season, he has scored at least 19 points in each of his past six games.

Forward Trent Johnson leads Montreal but has struggled with consistency. He scored 22 points with seven rebounds at Winnipeg but has totaled just 11 points over his previous three appearances combined. Johnson played only six minutes in Montreal’s win over Hamilton on July 10 and shot 1-for-7 from the field in the loss at Ottawa on July 8.

The teams have split four meetings this season, with Ottawa winning the past two. The Blackjacks beat Montreal 90-79 on May 31 in Montreal. The Alliance won 96-87 at home on May 23. Last season, Ottawa took three of five matchups.

Ottawa is coming off a complete performance at Scarborough, where forward Isaih Moore posted 19 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks, and guard Wilson Dubinsky added 19 points, five rebounds and three assists.

Montreal received 17 points from guard Blondeau Tchoukuiengo and seven points and eight rebounds from center Kevin Osawe in the loss at Winnipeg.

The Blackjacks are 6-6 on the road this season. The Alliance is 4-7 at home.

Ottawa plays at Niagara on Sunday. Montreal hosts Scarborough on Sunday before a three-game road trip.