Alvark can start quickly through its spacing and extra possessions, but Utsunomiya have a current way to slow the turnover cascade and answer a run. Ryukyu face a rested NeoPhoenix side whose primary scorers are in form, while their own physical rebounding has made close finishes possible. The second possession after each scoring burst is central in both games.
Johnson, Jarreau and Rossiter make Alvark dangerous on the first shot and the rebound. Fotu, Kell and Hiejima all played Utsunomiya's latest game, when their team moved the ball with very few turnovers; Jarreau and Okura also played meaningful minutes for Alvark despite Olbrich's established injury-list absence. Utsunomiya have several actual scorers to answer a home run, and Alvark's recent close home finishes show why a lead still needs another defensive stop. That's why I'm siding with Utsunomiya to stay within reach.
NeoPhoenix can score through Davis and Brown, with Sasaki directing the next action. Ryukyu's Oura, Nwaba and Cooley played meaningful minutes in their latest win, and Cooley's work on the glass meets a NeoPhoenix side that has recently struggled to end defensive possessions. Older Jerrett and Yu injury notices do not change the observed core roles in these latest games. Ryukyu can use Oura's passing and another shot after a miss to respond to a NeoPhoenix run. That's why I'm siding with Ryukyu to stay close.
