Preview: Sudbury Five at KW Titans

SUDBURY, Ontario (Interstat) — The KW Titans will look to extend their dominance over a familiar foe when they host the Sudbury Five in a Basketball Super League matchup on Thursday night.

The Titans (20-9) have won three straight meetings against the Five (14-10), including two narrow victories in Sudbury last month. KW edged the Five 100-98 on March 29 and won 105-97 on March 22. Overall, the Titans have taken five of the last six games in the season series.

KW enters on a strong note, having won four of its last five games. The Titans are coming off a 108-98 road victory over Windsor on April 11, powered by forward Tyshon Pickett’s 25 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Pickett has been a consistent force against Sudbury this season, averaging 17.8 points and 5.5 rebounds in four head-to-head matchups.

The Sudbury Five, meanwhile, aim to reverse the recent trend and climb the standings. They split a recent four-game set with Montreal, capped by a 96-90 road win on April 9. Center Alex Kotov was instrumental in that victory, posting a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds.

Kotov is the key figure for the Five. Over his last eight games, he is averaging 16.1 points and 7.4 rebounds. However, his production has dipped slightly against KW’s defense this season. In three games versus the Titans in March, Kotov averaged just 11.7 points, well below his recent form.

The Titans have established themselves as one of the league’s top teams, boasting a superior record and proven success in close games against Sudbury. The Five will need a standout performance from Kotov and must find a way to contain Pickett to snap their skid in the rivalry.

Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. EDT at KW Titans Arena.