Preview: Santa Cruz Warriors at Memphis Hustle

SOUTHAVEN, Miss. (Interstat) — Two teams seeking to reverse prolonged struggles will meet when the Santa Cruz Warriors visit the Memphis Hustle in a G League matchup Wednesday afternoon at the DeSoto Civic Center.

Both clubs enter with identical 10-win records near the bottom of the league standings. Santa Cruz (10-21) has lost three straight and eight of its last 10 games. Memphis (10-22) is mired in an even deeper slump, having dropped nine of its last 10 contests.

The game features a compelling backcourt matchup between two of the league’s top recent performers. Santa Cruz will rely on guard Franco Miller, who is coming off a 25-point, six-assist effort in a Feb. 3 loss at Oklahoma City. Over his last six games, Miller has averaged 15.5 points and 5.7 assists.

Memphis counters with swingman Nate Hinton, who has been a consistent bright spot during the team’s skid. Hinton is averaging 19.1 points and 6.1 rebounds over his last 10 games, including a 25-point, 11-rebound double-double in a narrow 109-106 home loss to San Diego on Feb. 8.

In their most recent outings, the Warriors fell 130-110 at Oklahoma City on Feb. 3. Miller led Santa Cruz with 25 points, while Chance McMillian added a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. The Hustle’s latest result was the three-point defeat to San Diego, where Hinton’s double-double was supported by 20 points and eight assists from DeJon Jarreau.

Despite the similar records, a statistical projection from Interstat favors the visiting Warriors, simulating a 121-100 Santa Cruz victory.

The game is the first of a brief two-game set between the teams, who will meet again at the same venue Thursday night. For Santa Cruz, it opens a four-game road trip. Memphis continues a six-game homestand, its longest of the season.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST.