Preview: Rio Grande Valley Vipers at Oklahoma City Blue

OKLAHOMA CITY (Interstat) — Two teams looking to halt recent slides will meet when the Rio Grande Valley Vipers visit the Oklahoma City Blue in a G League matchup Friday night at Cox Convention Center.

The Vipers (5-6) enter having lost two of their last three, including a 118-113 home defeat to Mexico City on Saturday. The Blue (4-7) have dropped four consecutive games, most recently a 139-123 loss to Osceola on Saturday.

Rio Grande Valley will lean on guard Daishen Nix, who has been a consistent triple-double threat. Over his last 10 games, Nix is averaging 25.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 7.8 assists. He is coming off a 34-point, 8-rebound, 10-assist performance in the loss to Mexico City.

Oklahoma City will counter with forward Zack Austin, who scored a season-high 29 points in the Blue’s last outing. His production has been variable, but he provides a scoring spark for a team that has allowed an average of 127.3 points during its four-game skid.

The teams met earlier this season on Nov. 7 in Edinburg, Texas, with Oklahoma City securing a narrow 116-114 victory. The Blue will aim to replicate that result and defend their home court, where they are 2-3 this season. The Vipers, who are 3-3 on the road, seek to even the season series and climb above .500.

Friday’s contest is the first of a two-game road trip for Rio Grande Valley, which visits Birmingham on Sunday. Oklahoma City begins a three-game homestand before breaking for the holiday.