WESTCHESTER AT MOTOR CITY PREVIEW

WALKER, Mich. (Interstat) — The Motor City Cruise will look to avenge a lopsided loss and halt a two-game skid when they host the struggling Westchester Knicks in a G League matchup Sunday at DeltaPlex Arena.

The teams just met Saturday, with Westchester (2-17) securing a rare 91-73 road victory. That win snapped a five-game losing streak for the Knicks, though they promptly followed it with a 139-90 home defeat to Capital City on Thursday.

Motor City (8-11) has lost two straight since that loss to Westchester, including a 123-114 result against Grand Rapids on Tuesday. The Cruise have been inconsistent, mixing impressive offensive outings with defensive lapses.

A key matchup will feature two of the league’s recent top performers. Westchester will lean on forward Tosan Evbuomwan, who is coming off a 19-point, 12-rebound, six-assist effort against Capital City and has averaged 20.2 points over his last five games. His versatility will be central to any Knicks’ hopes.

For the Cruise, guard Jaden Akins has been on a scoring tear. He dropped 33 points with six assists in the loss to Grand Rapids and followed a 29-point game with 18 points in his two prior contests. His backcourt playmaking and scoring burst are vital for Motor City’s offense.

Beyond the stars, Westchester will need continued production from guards Dink Pate (26 points, 10 rebounds Thursday) and Donovan Williams. Motor City counters with a balanced attack that recently saw Quincy Olivari post a 22-point, 10-rebound, seven-assist line and center Tolu Smith add 15 points and nine rebounds.

The Knicks, despite their league-worst record, proved they can compete with the Cruise just days ago. Motor City, however, will be heavily motivated to defend its home court and correct the mistakes from that defeat. The game tips off Sunday afternoon as both teams conclude a brief two-game set.

UP NEXT:

Knicks: Host Stockton on Jan. 9. Cruise: Visit Capital City on Jan. 7.