LISBON (Interstat) — SC Portugal will host Esgueira on Saturday at Pavilhão João Rocha in Lisbon, with the home side looking to build on an overtime win and the visitors seeking their first victory of the season. SC Portugal enters 1-1, while Esgueira is 0-1.

Esgueira is coming off an 84-64 home loss to CD Povoa. Pedro Carvalhal was the most productive player for Esgueira in that game, finishing with 18 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists in 39 minutes. Yeratel Antonio added 10 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks in 30 minutes, and Filipe Ferreira had 5 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists in 31 minutes. Carvalhal remains the player to watch for Esgueira as it tries to generate offense against a SC Portugal team playing at home.

SC Portugal most recently earned a 79-75 overtime win against Rilski Sportist. Francisco Amarante led the way with 25 points, 5 rebounds and 1 assist in 29 minutes. Joao Embalo contributed 8 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists in 21 minutes, and Gabe Kalscheur added 11 points, 5 rebounds and 1 block in 18 minutes. Amarante is the player to watch for SC Portugal. He also had 9 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists in 31 minutes earlier this season at Benfica, a game SC Portugal lost 84-71.

SC Portugal has shown scoring balance in the early going, but Amarante’s ability to create and finish will be central against Esgueira. Esgueira will need Carvalhal to carry a heavy workload again while getting support from Antonio and Ferreira inside and on the glass. The matchup pits Esgueira’s search for consistency against SC Portugal’s home-court advantage and recent momentum from the overtime result.

SC Portugal’s early schedule has included domestic and European play, and the team will return to that busy stretch after Saturday. Esgueira, meanwhile, is focused on its domestic league slate and will look to build momentum before a run of upcoming games. The visitors have several matchups ahead, but their attention is on ending their early-season slide against a home side that has already shown it can score in bunches. SC Portugal will try to improve to 2-1, and Esgueira will aim to even its record. The visitors will look to limit turnovers and second-chance opportunities, while the hosts will try to use their home floor to control tempo. Both teams will continue their schedules after this matchup, but neither will look past Saturday’s contest.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a final score of SC Portugal 98, Esgueira 93.