BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil (Interstat) — Corinthians visits Minas on Monday at Arena Vivo in a critical NBB matchup that could tighten the race for playoff seeding. Tipoff is at 8 p.m. local time.

Minas (35-13) enters with the league’s second-best record, two games clear of third-place Corinthians (29-12). A win would give Minas a three-game cushion over its rival with four games remaining in the regular season. Corinthians, winners of five of its last seven, can pull within one game of Minas with a victory.

Guard Elyjah Clark has been the engine for Corinthians. In his last seven games, Clark averaged 13.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists, including a 28-point outburst April 15 in a 92-86 win over Caxias Do Sul. He also posted 20 points, six rebounds and four assists in an 88-78 win over Paraiba on April 21, and 16 points, four rebounds and six assists in an 81-71 victory against the same opponent April 29.

For Minas, forward Juan Arengo has been a consistent scorer. He poured in 24 points, five rebounds and one assist in a 103-93 win over Cruzeiro on April 29, and had 17 points, four rebounds and four assists in a 101-74 rout of Cruzeiro three days earlier. Over his past eight games, Arengo averaged 14.8 points on 46% shooting, adding 3.3 rebounds and 2.9 assists.

The teams split two meetings this season. Minas won 92-74 at home on Jan. 8, and edged Corinthians 83-81 on Oct. 18, 2025, in Belo Horizonte. The home team has won both matchups.

Minas enters Monday on a four-game winning streak after a 103-93 victory over Cruzeiro. Corinthians also won its most recent game, 81-71 over Paraiba on April 29.

Corinthians will rely on guard Elinho Corazza, who logged 40 minutes and produced 11 points, five rebounds and seven assists in that win. Center Victor Andre Camilo Da Silva added 15 points and four rebounds.

Minas will counter with guard Jordan Williams, who scored 20 points in the win over Cruzeiro, and forward Rafael Silva, who posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

The game marks the first of a two-game season series finale; the teams will meet again May 9 in São Paulo. With playoff positioning at stake, Monday’s contest could be a preview of a potential postseason clash.