Cruise Visit Herd in G League Showdown Featuring Hot Streak, Slump

OSHKOSH, Wis. (Interstat) — A surging Motor City Cruise meets a struggling Wisconsin Herd in a G League matchup Friday night at Oshkosh Arena, with the visitors looking to continue their push up the standings and the hosts desperate to halt a lengthy skid.

The Cruise (23-21) arrive having won five of their last six games, their offense firing on all cylinders. They are led by the dominant play of center Isaac Jones, who enters on a blistering streak. Over his last six games, Jones is averaging 31.0 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per contest. He is coming off a 37-point, 6-rebound, 4-assist, 3-block performance in a narrow 123-122 road loss to Raptors 905 on Tuesday.

Motor City’s recent run contrasts sharply with the season-long difficulties of the Herd (13-32). Wisconsin has lost 10 of its last 12 games, including a heartbreaking 116-115 overtime defeat at Windy City on Monday. In that loss, forward Cormac Ryan posted 29 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists, continuing his run as a bright spot. Ryan has averaged 26.3 points over his last four appearances.

History in the season series favors the home team, however. Wisconsin won both prior meetings this season, a 114-112 victory in Detroit on Dec. 3 and a 118-111 win there on Nov. 25.

The Cruise will aim to leverage their high-powered attack, which has scored 129 or more points in four of their last five wins, to reverse that trend. The Herd, allowing an average of 116.3 points per game during their 2-10 stretch, will need to find answers defensively to contain Jones and company.

Friday’s contest is the first of a two-game weekend set between the teams, with a rematch scheduled in Oshkosh on Saturday night.