Preview: Stars, Lakers Set for G League Showdown in El Segundo

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (Interstat) — A surging Salt Lake City Stars squad looks to continue its climb up the G League standings when it visits the South Bay Lakers on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, at the UCLA Health Training Center.

The Stars (19-11) enter with the better overall record, having won two of their last three games, including a 126-113 victory over Santa Cruz on Monday. The Lakers (14-13) have been inconsistent but are coming off a 121-107 home win against College Park on Tuesday.

The matchup features a compelling battle in the paint between two of the league’s most productive big men. Salt Lake City is led by center Oscar Tshiebwe, who has been a force on the boards. Over his last eight games, Tshiebwe has averaged a double-double, including a 20-rebound, 18-point, 8-assist performance in a win at Sioux Falls on Jan. 18. In Monday’s win, he posted 17 points and 16 rebounds.

South Bay will counter with its own defensive anchor, Kylor Kelley. The center is a premier shot-blocker, recording six blocks against College Park and seven in a game earlier this month. He has four double-doubles in his last ten outings, providing a consistent interior presence for the Lakers.

The season series currently favors Salt Lake City. The Stars won both meetings in November and December, including a 136-105 rout of the Lakers on Dec. 2. However, the teams just played on Thursday, Jan. 29, with no result provided, indicating a tightly contested or postponed affair that adds immediate intrigue to this rematch.

For Salt Lake City, support for Tshiebwe has come from John Tonje, who scored 25 points in the last game, and Matthew Cleveland, who added 19 points and 11 rebounds. South Bay’s backcourt, led by R.J. Davis and his 21-point, 6-assist effort last time out, will be critical in generating offense against a strong Stars team.

Saturday’s contest is the final game of a brief homestand for South Bay before a lengthy road trip. Salt Lake City continues a road swing before returning home next week. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. PST at the Lakers’ training facility.