Leicester Riders are back at home to face London Lions in their final group game of the Super League Basketball Trophy.
Having already secured top spot in the group with a 5-0 start to the season, the Riders’ aim is to go undefeated through the group phase against London to keep the team rolling into the regular season next week.
London, who find themselves out of the competition, look to build form and bag back-to-back wins after their victory against Surrey on Friday night.
Here’s how the fixture is shaping up…
Fixture information
Leicester Riders vs London Lions
Super League Basketball Trophy
Mattioli Arena
4pm
Leicester leading the group
The Riders progressed through the Trophy group phase with few complications- their win against Surrey 89ers midweek booking their place in the semi-finals with two games to spare.
But locking up the top spot in the group was anything but smooth sailing last time out. It took an overtime battle on the road to the Bristol Flyers to decide the group’s seeding, with Leicester coming out eventual winners 105-101.
Zach Jackson and Jaylin Hunter went off in the clutch to see out a game in which Bristol never said die, making a late comeback in the fourth to send it to OT.
Jackson led the game with 27 and 7, and Hunter logged 20 and 9, the duo combining for seven in overtime and 18 in the fourth quarter.
“Zach’s a closer,” said Head Coach Rob Paternostro following Jackson’s clutch performance in Bristol. “He wants to step up in big moments, and it’s always great to see number 21 with the ball late in games.”
The gritty win meant the Riders remained undefeated on the season with a 5-0 record. They average the most assists, the second most points and the best three point percentage of Super League Basketball teams, and the Riders allow the least amount of points per game.
Individually, Jackson has put himself among the elite scorers in British basketball. He puts up the third most points of any player with 19.4 per game, and ranks second in three point percentage (over three attempts per game) with 50%, behind only Leicester’s Blake Bowman.
Building off the back of a Player of the Game performance with 14 points against Surrey 89ers midweek, Bowman exploded for 13 points in a red hot second period against the Flyers.
“He’s been fun to watch,” added Paternostro. “He had a great summer playing 3×3 with GB and really worked hard. He’s still a young player and he’s getting better and better. I’ve been really pleased with his commitment to working on his game.
“He’s taken his moment and run with it, and today he was vital with the plays he made in the second quarter.”
London Lions looking for early season form
The reigning British basketball champions have endured a fall back to earth at the start of the inaugural Super League Basketball season.
They failed to qualify from the group phase, and despite yesterday’s 81-69 win to Surrey, have a 2-3 record on the season.
London endured their heaviest defeat of the season to Leicester- an 89-66 blowout at the Copper Box Arena. It was a start-to-finish dominant display from the Riders who led wire-to-wire led by Jaylin Hunter’s 21.
Last night was a step in the right direction for London, who took a dominant win led by 20 from Jaiden Delaire. American wing Delaire leads the League’s scoring with 21 points per game, and logged 17 and 5 against Leicester last time out.
While this game will bear no impact on qualification, the Lions will be keen to get their season on track with a statement win in Leicester.
Where to watch
Tickets are still available for the game! Get yours here!
It will also be streamed live on DAZN. You can watch here.
