Kobe Storks vs Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka, Japan B2 League, Today Match Prediction

Teams Preview

Kobe Storks Preview

Kobe Storks are making this season a better one as they are on a ten-game wining streak in the regular season. The league leaders outplayed Aomiri 102-53 in the previous game. In their previous two wins, their winning margin crossed 40 points. Kobe now have posted a season-best 44-5 in the Western Conference. They are the only team to cross 40 wins in the ongoing season. The Storks will be home now for a two-game set against Fukuoka, whom they beat four times this season. 

With the previous win over Aomiri, Kobe also improved to 23-4 on the road this season. They will be home now and Storks are 21-1 at home in the regular season. They shot 48% from the floor and 39% from the three-point line. The Storks averaged a second-best 87.5 points in the B2 League, while they allowed 73.6 points. They are sixth in the steals per game (6.9) and forcing season-lowest 9.5 turnovers per game. The hosts rank third in the field goals (45.9%) and fourth in the three-point shooting (33.0%). 

Four players reached double figures in the previous game. Yoeli Childs led the offense with 20 points and seven rebounds. Luke Maye went for 16 points and 13 rebounds, while Isaac Butts added 15 points and 15 rebounds. Jimmy Salem contributed 14 points and Riichi Nomizo had nine. If we pick out an offensive threat for the next game, Yoeli Childs is right up there. He has scored 20 or more points in each of the last 14 games and averaged 21.3 points in the regular season. We back him to score 24 or more points in the home fixture.

Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka Preview

Fukuoka enter the contest with a 90-95 loss against Ehime in the second of a two-game set. It was their fifth loss in six games. With this loss, they tied the regular-season series with Ehime. The third quarter debacle handed them a third consecutive defeat in the regular season. Fukuoka are currently sitting fifth in the Western Conference with a 21-28 record. They will play against the Kobe Storks for a two-game set. 

Fukuoka shot 50% from the floor and 36% from the three-point line. The hosts outscored the opposition 39-26 in the rebounding battle. They averaged 76 points in the league and allowed 79.1 points per game against the opposition. They rank second in three-point shooting (34.1%) and third in turnovers (10.8). Fukuoka have gone 12-12 on the road this season. The Rizing Zephyr are 0-4 against Kobe in the ongoing season.

Terrance Woodbury was the top performer in the last game with 26 points and 11 rebounds. Takanobu Nishikawa went for 15 points, while Justin Burrell chipped in with 14 points. Pablo Aguilar contributed 14 points and 13 rebounds. Woodbury could be an offensive threat against Kobe. The veteran forward averaged 18.1 points in the regular season and went into single digits once in the last 11. We are backing him to score over 15 points in this fixture.

Kobe Storks vs Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka Starting Lineups