Preview: Windy City Bulls at Greensboro Swarm

GREENSBORO, N.C. (Interstat) — The surging Greensboro Swarm, owners of the G League’s best record, host the inconsistent Windy City Bulls in a weekend back-to-back opener Friday at Greensboro Coliseum Fieldhouse.

The Swarm (20-8) enter as one of the league’s hottest teams, having won eight of their last 10 games despite a 138-147 shootout loss at Maine on Sunday. They are led by versatile center P.J. Hall, who is coming off a dominant 29-point, 12-rebound, five-assist performance in that defeat. In his last two games, Hall has averaged 23.5 points, 12.5 rebounds and 4.5 blocks.

They face a Windy City squad (14-13) that has shown flashes but struggled for consistency. The Bulls are 4-6 in their last 10 games but are riding a two-game winning streak after a 123-102 road victory at Oklahoma City on Wednesday.

The Bulls are powered by high-scoring guard Mac McClung, who is in the midst of an explosive January. Over his last eight games, McClung is averaging 28.8 points and 8.1 assists, including a 40-point, 10-assist outing in a win at Oklahoma City on Jan. 26 and a 31-point, 17-assist performance in a loss to Delaware on Jan. 8.

The matchup between McClung’s electric perimeter play and Hall’s interior dominance will be key. Greensboro’s balanced attack also features reliable production from Liam McNeeley and Marcus Garrett, who combined for 43 points in the last outing.

Windy City will need to find an answer for Greensboro’s high-powered offense, which has scored 122 or more points in nine of its last ten contests. The Bulls’ defense, which has allowed an average of 122.2 points per game this season, will be severely tested.

The teams will meet again at the same venue Saturday night to complete the two-game set.