The Newfoundland Growlers host the Saskatchewan Rattlers at 3 p.m. NT in a rematch for the Rattlers who lost their last matchup. Newfoundland enters this matchup 1-11 with the Rattlers 7-6.

In their first matchup with the Rattlers on June 28, the Growlers lost 90-71. In that matchup Nysier Brooks led the Growlers with 20 points. 22 points from Tony Carr and 21 points from Devonte Bandoo elevated the Rattlers to victory while Jordy Tshimanga added 13 rebounds to compliment the Rattlers 52 per cent shooting

The Growlers went up and down in their last two games, the win coming against the Rattlers 83-60. Brandon Sampson scored 22 points to lead the Growlers while Terry Thomas scored 18 and Jermel Kennedy 13 with Shaquille Keith adding 16 points. The Growlers forcing 22 turnovers gave them opportunities in transition and the all-around effort on the glass gave them a 43-35 rebounding advantage leading to 11 second chance points on 18 offensive rebounds.

Since then, the Growlers lost 88-81 to the Fraser Valley Bandits at home. Sampson scored 21 points and the Growlers new addition Blake Francis led the teams scoring with 22 points on 43 per cent shooting and four made threes. Francis added more perimeter shooting to the Growlers team that got contributions from Terry Thomas and Sampson outside the paint, and he sparked the Growlers play coming off of the bench.

At the forward spot, Brooks and Kennedy combined for 14 rebounds in the loss and scored 15 points. Going against the Bandits forwards of Murphy Burnatowski and James Karnik, the Growlers forwards had their hands full keeping Karnik out of the paint and off the free throw line. Now Brooks and Kennedy will be going up against Tshimanga who recorded 10 points and nine rebounds the last time these teams met, but the emphasis of scoring will be on the guards.

Saskatchewan is coming off a 101-50 loss to the Ottawa BlackJacks, but in that game the facilitation of Tony Carr and the shooting of Sebastian Aris provided consistency. The Rattlers last two games primarily featured the offence of their guards, with Carr dishing out six assists in their loss to Ottawa and Lindsey and Bandoo leading the scoring alongside Tshimanga in their loss to Newfoundland. With Lindsey ranked fifth in points per game at 20 and Carr ranked second in assists with 5.8, the ability for the Rattlers guards to both be facilitators and scorers is key for the Rattlers against a Newfoundland defence that leads the league in steals per game with 9.8.

The Growlers defence allows their offence to flow and find shooters, and their shooters are Francis, Sampson and Thomas. Newfoundland, who shoots 44 per cent as a team, creates their points by the attack of the guards and the ability to get to spaces on the floor. The matchup of Sampson and Thomas with Bandoo and Lindsey will be a key identifier to who is able to execute, both players with the ability to take what the defence gives them while also attacking if necessary.

With Tshimanga and Brooks going for rebounds in the paint, Carr and Junior Cadougan facilitating the offence, and Sampson and Lindsey finding their shots through the execution of their offence, there will be vital matchups all over the floor. The Growlers will look to use their 9.8 steals per game defence to create extra opportunities while the Rattlers improve on their three-point percentage which ranks tied for first at 38.4 and punish the Growlers by creating shots with the movement of their guards.

The Rattlers and Growlers are 1-1 in their head to head this season with the Rattlers taking the first matchup 90-71 and the Growlers taking the second matchup 83-60.

All games will be streamed live internationally on the CEBL’s OTT platform, CEBL+ , and on the CEBL Mobile app for iOS and Android devices. Games will also be available to stream live in Canada via cbcsports.ca , the CBC Sports app for iOS and Android devices, and the free CBC Gem streaming service.

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