CIUDAD DE MEXICO (Interstat) — The Tijuana Zonkeys visit the Ciudad de Mexico squad Thursday in a Mexican CIBACOPA matchup that carries playoff implications as both teams hover near .500.

Tijuana (19-19) and Ciudad de Mexico (19-20) meet at 8 p.m. local time at the Arena Ciudad de Mexico. The Zonkeys hold a slim one-game advantage over their opponent in the standings, but the home team has won the last two meetings in this series, both in the capital.

Ciudad de Mexico defeated Tijuana 100-78 on April 22 and 94-85 on April 21. The Zonkeys, however, swept the two previous games in Tijuana, winning 111-87 on March 28 and 111-97 on March 27.

Tijuana guard Zhuric Phelps has been productive lately, averaging 13 points over his last eight games. He logged 16 points, five rebounds and five assists in a 93-91 win against Obregon on May 16. In the previous game, a 73-93 loss to the same opponent, he managed seven points and nine rebounds. Over his last five outings, Phelps has scored at least 13 points four times, including a 21-point, five-rebound, five-assist performance in a 97-92 loss at Jal. Astros on May 8.

For Ciudad de Mexico, center Chuba Ohams has been a force on the boards. He grabbed 16 rebounds to go with seven points and three blocks in a 110-76 loss to Jal. Astros on May 15. Two days earlier, in a 108-103 loss at Los Mochis, Ohams posted 19 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks. He has recorded double-digit rebounds in five of his last seven games, including a 15-rebound effort in a 108-98 win at Los Mochis on May 11.

Both teams enter on different trajectories. Tijuana has won three of its last five, including a 108-104 home win against Hermosillo on May 6. Ciudad de Mexico, meanwhile, has lost five of its last six, with the lone win coming at Los Mochis. The home team’s most recent outing was a 105-61 blowout loss to Jal. Astros on May 16.

With the regular season winding down, Thursday’s game could prove critical for positioning. The Zonkeys look to snap a two-game road losing streak in the series, while Ciudad de Mexico aims to build momentum after a string of lopsided defeats.