SAO PAULO (Interstat) — The top two teams in the Brazilian NBB’s regular-season standings square off Thursday night when Corinthians hosts Minas at Ginasio Wlamir Marques.

Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. local time.

Minas (35-14) enters with the league’s best record, two games ahead of second-place Corinthians (30-12). The teams are meeting for the third time this season, with the series tied 1-1.

A key matchup to watch: the backcourts.

Minas guard Jordan Williams has been the team’s leading scorer in recent weeks. In a 100-90 loss to Corinthians on Monday, he played 37 minutes and posted 24 points with six rebounds. Over his past six games, Williams averaged 19.2 points, including a 20-point performance against Cruzeiro on April 29 and a 16-point outing at Cruzeiro on April 26.

For Corinthians, guard Elinho Corazza has been a dominant two-way force. In Monday’s win at Minas, he recorded a near triple-double: 20 points, seven rebounds and 12 assists in 40 minutes. Over his past five contests, Corazza averaged 17.0 points per game, shooting efficiently from the floor, and dished out at least eight assists in four of those outings. He also scored 18 points with eight assists in a 76-73 win at Paraiba on April 26.

Monday’s head-to-head was a high-scoring affair. Corinthians shot 52 percent from the field and outscored Minas 30-18 in the third quarter to seize control. Elyjah Clark added 16 points and nine rebounds for Corinthians, while Lucas Pereira contributed 17 points and five rebounds. For Minas, Juan Arengo scored 20 points with five rebounds and four assists, and center Winicius Silva Braga grabbed 12 boards.

Earlier this season, Minas defeated Corinthians 92-74 in Sao Paulo on Jan. 8. The teams also played a close game in October 2025, with Minas winning 83-81 at home.

Both teams enter with momentum. Corinthians has won five of its last six games, while Minas is 7-3 in its past 10 outings. The winner will take sole possession of first place with just a few weeks remaining in the regular season.