MOGI DAS CRUZES (Interstat) — Mogi das Cruzes will carry a 6-1 season record into its home game on Friday against Jorge Guzman at Ginasio Municipal Professor Hugo Ramos in Mogi das Cruzes, Brazil. Jorge Guzman is 2-1. Mogi das Cruzes enters as one of the stronger early-season teams in the group and has won five of its past six games, with its lone loss in that stretch coming on the road against Franca. The game is set for the home arena of Mogi das Cruzes. Jorge Guzman will look to build on a close home win against Nacional.

George De Paula is the player to watch for Mogi das Cruzes. In the team’s most recent game, a 78-70 home win against Paraiba, De Paula finished with 24 points and 17 rebounds to go with three assists and one block across 33 minutes. He also had 17 points and 11 rebounds in a win against Corinthians Paulista and recorded 12 assists in a loss at Franca. Earlier, he had 10 points, three rebounds and three assists in a road win at Independiente de Oliva, and seven points, six rebounds and six assists against Importadora Alvarado. Daniel Von Haydin added 11 points, eight rebounds and six assists in the Paraiba win, while Lucas Caue contributed six points and five rebounds.

Jorge Guzman’s most recent result was an 80-78 home win against Nacional. James Ra Shad scored 20 points and added four rebounds and six assists in that game. Leonardo Mainoldi had 11 points and seven rebounds, and Dayon Griffin scored 16 points with four rebounds and two assists. Jorge Guzman also beat Corinthians Paulista 97-96 at home before falling to Regatas Corrientes 77-69.

Mogi das Cruzes has recent wins against Bauru, Corinthians Paulista, Independiente, Importadora Alvarado and Olimpia Kings. The team’s only loss in its listed recent results came against Franca by a 90-74 margin. Mogi das Cruzes will return home after a road win at Bauru and will look to maintain its form in front of its home crowd. Mogi das Cruzes will continue its schedule with home games against Independiente and Nacional before another home matchup with Cearense. Jorge Guzman will continue with a road game against Nacional and a home game against Independiente.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a final score of Mogi das Cruzes 84, Jorge Guzman 82. Interstat’s ELO system gives Mogi das Cruzes a 92.4 percent probability to win. Mogi das Cruzes has been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -14.5, and the over/under for the game is 163.