The Leicester Riders return to action this Sunday, 5th October, as they travel to face Manchester Basketball in what promises to be an exciting early-season clash. Both teams come into the game with something to prove after mixed starts, and the Riders will be eager to bounce back after a narrow defeat to Bristol Flyers.
Riders Looking to Build Momentum
Rob Paternostro’s side showed plenty of positives in their trip to Bristol Flyers, despite the 74–70 loss. New signing RaeQuan Battle hit the ground running in Riders colours, draining three triples on his way to 14 points and 4 rebounds. His energy and scoring threat on his debut gave Riders fans a glimpse of the firepower he brings to the team.
Alongside him, Travis Evee continues to set the tone at both ends of the court. Against Bristol, the guard posted 15 points and 7 assists, keeping the Riders ticking offensively and showing his ability to step up in the clutch. With those two leading the way, Leicester will be confident of turning their strong stretches of play into a full 40-minute performance on Sunday.
Credit: Leicester Riders Media
Manchester’s Mixed Start
Manchester opened their campaign with a strong win on home court, but fell short in their second outing on the road to Surrey 89ers. That split leaves them at 1–1 heading into Sunday’s clash, and they’ve already shown they can be dangerous when their offence is flowing. The Riders will need to stay sharp defensively to limit their momentum.
Key threats for Manchester include Patrick Smith Jr, who has been a consistent scorer and playmaker in their opening games, and Max Jones, whose athleticism and outside shooting make him a player Leicester must keep close tabs on.
What to Expect
With both sides losing their opening away ties, this matchup feels like an early-season test of resilience and momentum. The Riders will look to start strong, just as they did in Bristol where they raced into a 14-point first-quarter lead. The challenge will be maintaining that intensity against a Manchester side that thrives on fast-paced runs.
Fans can expect an exciting battle between two teams hungry to climb the standings. For the Riders, the performances of Battle and Evee will be key — but the support cast of Nate Martin, Spencer Johnson, and Emmanuel Akot could provide the spark that makes the difference on the road.
Credit: Leicester Riders Media
Where to watch:
The Riders face Manchester Basketball on Sunday, 5th October, with tip-off set for 3:00pm at the National Basketball Performance Centre. Fans can purchase away tickets and travel via the Leicester Riders Supporters Club by emailing [email protected], or tune in to watch Coach Rob Paternostro and the team live on DAZN.
Leicester Riders’ next home game at the Mattioli Arena is on Friday 17 October 2025, when the team take on fierce rivals Newcastle Eagles for the first time since our SLB Playoff Final victory—tickets on sale here.
