The Montréal Alliance travel to Saskatoon Thursday night seeking to bounce back from their Canada Day setback in Edmonton, facing a Saskatchewan Rattlers squad desperately searching for answers in what has become a challenging season. The Alliance (5-6) occupy fourth place in the Eastern Conference, just 1.5 games behind first-place Niagara, while the Rattlers (3-10) sit last in the Western Conference, a distant 7.0 games behind league-leading Vancouver.

This matchup presents an opportunity for Montréal to regain momentum following their 94-83 loss to Edmonton, where despite Tavian Dunn-Martin’s spectacular 30-point performance, the Alliance couldn’t overcome Sean East II’s dominant 35-point explosion. The team will look to build on the positives from that contest, particularly Dunn-Martin’s offensive brilliance and Brandon Porter’s continued development, while addressing the defensive consistency issues that have plagued them on the road.

The Alliance enter this contest having demonstrated their offensive potential in their previous meeting with Saskatchewan, capturing a 93-89 victory at Verdun Auditorium on June 22nd. That game showcased Montréal’s balanced scoring attack, with five players reaching double figures led by Quincy Guerrier’s 20 points. Dunn-Martin contributed 15 points while Abdul Mohamed and O.D. Anosike each added 15 and 13 points respectively, with Malcolm Duvivier chipping in 11 points to round out the balanced effort.

Saskatchewan countered with strong performances from former Alliance players Devontè Bandoo (23 points) and Jordan Bowden (21 points), highlighting the revenge factor that often emerges when former teammates face their previous clubs The Rattlers will undoubtedly look to these veteran contributors to provide leadership and scoring punch as they attempt to salvage their season and climb out of the Western Conference basement.

The playoff implications for this contest heavily favour Montréal, as the Alliance remain well-positioned to secure a postseason berth despite their recent struggles. Sitting just 1.5 games behind the conference-leading River Lions, every victory becomes crucial in determining seeding and home-court advantage in the playoffs. The expanded 24-game regular season format means teams still have significant opportunities to improve their positioning, but consistency will be key for Montréal moving forward.

For Saskatchewan, this represents more than just another game in what has become a disappointing campaign. The Rattlers’ 3-10 record has them essentially eliminated from playoff contention, but pride and professional development remain important motivating factors. THeir ability to compete with Montréal in the previous meeting suggests they possess the talent to challenge playoff-bound teams, particularly at home.

The key for the Alliance will be establishing defensive intensity from the opening tip while continuing to develop the offensive chemistry that has shown flashes of brilliance. Dunn-Martin’s emergency as a go-to scorer provides a reliable foundation, while Porter’s integration and the veteran presence of Anosike offer multiple weapons. Kevin Osawe’s versatility and Guerrier’s scoring ability add depth to an attack that can be dynamic when firing on all cylinders.

This Saskatchewan trip serves as preparation for a pivotal July 6th showdown with the River Lions at 4:00 PM, when the Alliance return to Verdun Auditorium with conference supremacy implications on the line. Success in Saskatoon would provide valuable momentum heading into that marquee matchup, while a stumble could increase pressure in what promises to be a crucial stretch of games. The Alliance possess the talent and depth to compete with anyone when playing their style of basketball, but road consistency remains the key to unlocking their playoff potential.

Game Information 

Date: Thursday, July 3, 2025

Time: 9:30 PM ET

Location: Sasktel Centre, Saskatoon

Broadcast: CEBL+, TSN+, NLSE