CARACAS (Interstat) — The Caracas Cocodrilos visit Avila on Thursday, May 21, in a Venezuelan SLB matchup that carries immediate playoff implications and a recent history of tight margins.

Caracas (20-6) holds the league’s best record and has taken two of the last three head-to-head meetings, including a 91-88 victory on Tuesday at Avila. The Cocodrilos dropped the opener of the back-to-back set Monday, losing 77-71, before bouncing back two nights later. The three most recent meetings have been decided by six points or fewer, with Friday’s 68-66 Caracas win at home the closest.

Avila (15-14) sits near the middle of the standings but has shown competitiveness against the league leader. The home team split the two games this week and will look to even the season series, which Caracas leads 3-1.

Players to watch

Luis Montero has been Caracas’ most consistent performer in the series. The shooting guard logged 38 minutes in Tuesday’s win, posting 22 points, 12 rebounds and five assists. In Monday’s loss, he recorded 11 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in 36 minutes. Over his last eight games, Montero has posted at least 11 points and seven rebounds seven times, including four double-doubles. He also had 19 points and nine rebounds in a 68-66 win over Avila on May 15.

Heissler Guillen leads Avila’s attack. The point guard scored 25 points with five rebounds and three assists in Tuesday’s loss, playing 38 minutes. He had nine points and five rebounds in Monday’s win. Guillen has been productive over his last three games against Caracas, averaging 17.3 points and 4.3 assists. He recorded a double-double with 19 points and 10 assists in an 85-78 win at Miranda on April 30.

Recent results

Caracas enters after winning four of its last five. The Cocodrilos beat La Guaira 86-77 on May 6 and Zulia 81-78 on May 4, sandwiched around a 71-69 loss at Maracaibo on May 1. Caracas also blew out Car. Spartans 97-61 on April 28.

Avila has won three of its last four, including a 84-80 victory over Margarita on May 6 and an 85-78 win at Miranda on April 30. The lone loss in that stretch was a 77-75 defeat to Maracaibo on May 3.

Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. local time.