PUERTO LA CRUZ, Venezuela (Interstat) — The Venezuelan Superliga de Baloncesto’s top two teams square off Monday when the Zulia Gaiteros visit the Anzoátegui Marinos at Luis Ramos de Puerto La Cruz.

Zulia (24-7) holds the league’s best record, while Anzoátegui (19-11) sits second. The series has been tightly contested: the teams split their four previous meetings this season, with each winning on its home floor once. The Marinos took the last two matchups in Zulia, 89-86 on May 28 and 76-66 on May 29. The road team has won the past three games dating to April 6.

For Zulia, forward Nahziah Carter has been the offensive engine. In eight games since May 4, he has scored at least 16 points six times, including a 26-point outburst May 24 against Maracaibo. Over his last two meetings with Anzoátegui, Carter averaged 17 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 blocks. He logged 33 minutes in Friday’s loss, posting 18 points, four rebounds, five assists and three blocks. Carter, a 6-foot-6 swingman, is the Gaiteros’ leading scorer and will need to overcome a Marinos defense that held him to 9 points in a May 4 loss at Caracas.

Anzoátegui counters with center Malik Dime, a dominant presence in the paint. Dime has recorded seven double-doubles in his last nine outings, most recently a 10-point, 10-rebound effort in Friday’s win at Zulia. He pulled down 20 rebounds on May 21 against Car. Spartans and added 11 points and eight boards two days later. In two home games against Zulia this season, Dime averaged 11 points and 12 rebounds. The 6-foot-10 big man is also a shot-blocking threat, swatting three on May 15 and five on May 5.

The Marinos have won four of their past five games, with the lone loss a 77-78 home defeat to Zulia on May 6. That night, Dime had 10 points and 12 rebounds, but his team fell by one. Anzoátegui’s depth includes forward K.J. McDaniels, who scored 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds on Friday, and guard Carlos Fulda, who added seven points and nine boards.

Zulia, meanwhile, has dropped two straight after a four-game winning streak. The Gaiteros rely on Carter, forwards Luis Duarte (11 points, seven rebounds in Friday’s loss) and Micheal Warren (11 points). They have lost four of their past six road games, though they beat Anzoátegui in Puerto La Cruz on May 6.

Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. local time. The game marks the final regular-season meeting between the two teams before the playoffs.