Preview: Long Island Nets at Capital City Go-Go

WASHINGTON (Interstat) — Two teams hovering around the .500 mark will clash Wednesday night when the Long Island Nets visit the Capital City Go-Go in a G League matchup at CareFirst Arena.

Both teams enter with nearly identical records. The visiting Nets are 11-11 across all competitions, while the home-standing Go-Go sit at 11-10. The season series is split 1-1, with each team winning on its home floor in early November.

The game features a compelling matchup between two of the league’s recent top performers. Long Island guard Malachi Smith is coming off a career night, erupting for 36 points, six rebounds and nine assists in a 121-112 win over Wisconsin on Jan. 9. Over his last three games, Smith is averaging 24 points and 8.7 assists.

He will be countered by Capital City’s dominant big man, Skal Labissiere. The center has been on a tear, averaging 23.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.6 blocks over his last seven contests. He posted 25 points and eight rebounds in the Go-Go’s most recent victory, a 114-106 win over Motor City on Jan. 9.

Long Island has shown a potent but inconsistent offense, scoring 119 points or more in four of its last six outings, but also suffering narrow losses to San Diego and Cleveland in that span. Capital City boasts a recent blowout win, a 139-90 rout of Westchester on New Year’s Day, but also an overtime loss to Maine.

For the Nets, support for Smith has come from Jeenathan Williams and Tre Scott, who combined for 35 points and 16 rebounds in the win over Wisconsin. The Go-Go have relied on a balanced attack alongside Labissiere, with Jamir Watkins averaging a double-double and Will Riley providing scoring punch in recent games.

Wednesday’s contest is the first of a brief two-game homestand for Capital City, which hosts Raptors 905 on Thursday. Long Island continues a road swing with games at Iowa this weekend.

Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. EST Wednesday at CareFirst Arena in Washington, D.C.