Fukui Blowwinds vs Fukushima Firebonds, Japan B2 League, Today Match Prediction

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Fukui Blowwinds Preview

Fukui head into the contest with a 75-49 victory against Iwate on Sunday. They outscored the opposition 22-11 in the final quarter to clinch the game. The Blowwinds won six of the last eight games in B2 League. Fukui are still sitting at the fourth spot of the Eastern Conference with an impressive 27-19 record. The hosts are well ahead in the playoffs qualification. Fukui have gone 14-10 at home court this season. They will be in action for the another home clash against Fukushima, who defeated them thrice this season. 

The Blowwinds are 3-7 in their last ten home games. They were shooting 44% from the floor and 43% from the three-point line. The hosts out-rebounded Iwate 41-35. Fukui ranks fourth in the field goal percentage (45.3%) and third in three-point shooting (33.5%). They are fourth in steals per game (8.0). Fukui made a clean sweep over Iwate in regular-season. However, they already dropped a series 1-2 against Fukushima.  

Two players reached double figures for Fukui in the last game. Ryan Kelly led the scoring with 20 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Perry Ellis went for 10 points, while Rapolas Ivanauskas added eight points and eight rebounds. Ryan Kelly could be a player to watch out for in the upcoming fixture. The forward scored in single digits only three times in the last 20 games in B2 League and crossed the 20-point mark 10 times. We back Kelly to score 20 or more points in the home game. 

Fukushima Firebonds Preview

Fukushima got another setback in the regular season as they were swept by Kumamoto in a two-game set. Following a six-game winning streak, the Fire Bonds now dropped three consecutive games. The visitors were outscored 43-55 in the first half and it proved costly. They previously lost to Ehime when Shaquille Hines dropped a match-winning three-pointer with three seconds left. Three defeats in a row will not hurt their position in the table but their confidence will surely hurt. Fukushima are comfortably sitting at the second spot of the Eastern Conference with a 33-13 record. 

The Fire Bonds now have the third most number of victories (33) in the league. They had a chance to go on top of the conference table but the last one week has been tough. They have dropped just eight games out of 22 on the road. Fukushima were shooting 34% from the floor and 27% from the three-point line. They were out-rebounded by the opposition 59-42. Fukushima ranks third in the scoring average (86.3) and first in assists per (22.8). They are second in steals per game (8.5) and fourth in turnovers per game (10.9). 

Three players reached double figures for Fukushima in the last game. Patrick Gardner led the scoring with 21 points and 6 rebounds. JR Nunge went for a straight double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Tsukasa Nakano also added 14 points. Jack Nunge could be an offensive threat in the upcoming fixture. The 27-year-old has crossed the 20-point mark record 20 times in the ongoing season. We back him to break another 20-point mark to end the losing skid.    

Fukui Blowwinds vs Fukushima Firebonds Starting Lineups