SERIES PREVIEW

The Cavaliers and Heat will be forever intertwined in NBA history, but they are not just familiar foes at the big-league level.

The Charge and Skyforce meet in the NBA D-League playoffs for the second straight season, with Canton looking to turn the tables on Sioux Falls after being eliminated in a three-game first-round series a year ago. Feisty point guard Stephen Holt and the Charge have had the Skyforce’s number this season, winning all four of their matchups by an average of 11.3 points.

FIRST-ROUND SERIES: Maine vs. Fort Wayne | Sioux Falls vs. Canton |
Santa Cruz vs. Oklahoma City | Austin vs. Bakersfield

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Scotty Hopson

SG
19.2 PPG, 53% FG, 4.7 RPG, 3.3 APG

 

Larry Drew

PG
11.2 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 9.6 APG, 1.5 SPG

 

Joe Harris*

SG
14.1 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.6 3FG/G
*If assigned from Cavaliers

Alex Kirk

C
12.2 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1.2 BPG, 49% FG

Stephen Holt

PG
10.9 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.3 SPG

MEET THE SKYFORCE

NBA Affiliate: Miami Heat

Regular Season Record: 29-21

Key Stat(s): The Skyforce enter the playoffs as the top remaining offensive team (110.8 points per 100 possessions, 2nd in regular season) while ranking 3rd in assist percentage (58.1%).

MEET THE CHARGE

NBA Affiliate: Cleveland Cavaliers

Regular Season Record: 31-19

Key Stat(s): In a league where pace-and-space is the norm, the Charge play at by far the slowest pace (92.3 possessions per 48 minutes) and pound teams down low (52.4 rebound percentage, 2nd in the league).