Leicester Riders continue their end-of-season gauntlet in the Super League Basketball Championship, taking on fellow title contenders Sheffield Sharks at home.
Sharks in the water
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) April 7, 2025
Sheffield come to town on Friday- Kids go for a quid!Secure your seat here: https://t.co/GVwmGYdf1X pic.twitter.com/FvI2pTYe57
With all three title protagonists, the Riders, Sharks and London Lions all tripping up in their recent games, this battle represents an opportunity to pile the pressure onto the league-leading Lions while handing a loss to the second-placed Sharks.
However, Sheffield have been a thorn in the side of the Riders all season. They handed the Riders their only league home loss of the year, and have a 3-0 record against Leiecster on the year.
Fixture information
Leicester Riders vs Sheffield Sharks
Super League Basketball Championship
Mattioli Arena, Leicester
Friday, April 11, 7:30 pm
Super League Basketball title race
It could hardly be closer at the top of the Championship standings in the final month of action.
Three teams can still win the title, with London Lions the favorites currently possessing first place.
The Lions have a 21-6 record with five remaining games, followed by the 18-8 Sharks with six games left, and the 17-8 Riders with seven games to go.
These three teams duel it out against each other in April to decide the title. London and Sheffield play twice, Leicester and London play in London on April 23, and the Riders take on Sheffield Sharks in this one.
The league will likely be decided by the team who can knock off their title rivals in these momentous games.
Recent form
The Riders have faltered on the road in recent weeks, but leaning on their home form, they have remained in contention for the Championship title.
A win against the London Lions on Friday was a statement to their contemporaries. It was an 80-71 victory in which Leicester led by 18 in the final period. The Lions battled back to make it a four point difference late, but Zach Jackson, who led Leicester with 17, hit the dagger from range to take a crucial victory.
Huge result at home last night
— Leicester Riders | Basketball (@RidersBball) April 5, 2025
Check out the highlights from the win over Londonpic.twitter.com/aKU2hbeARj
A win in Caledonia two days later would have left the Riders in the driver’s seat for the title. But the second game in a doubleheader, especially on the road, always presents a challenge. The Riders fell short in Scotland 93-88.
Fortunately, midweek results went the Riders’ way. London Lions fell at home to Manchetser in a thrilling one score affair, and Sheffield lost 71-64 on the road to Bristol Flyers.
Sheffield’s form in particular has dovetailed since mid-March. They’re 3-4 in their last seven games, and enter this tie having lost their last three on the road. Late in the year, travel weighs heavy on tired legs, and with the Sharks having suited up on Tuesday evening, they’ll have to dig deep in Leicester.
Season series
Leicester Riders, 0-3 against Sheffield Sharks on the year, will be determined to get one over on their South Yorkshire opponents in what is their most consequential meeting of the season.
Despite not having overcome the Sharks on the year, the Riders will feel like games got away from them, especially in their previous meeting.
Leicester led by eight in the fourth, and by four with two minutes on the clock, close to stealing a win in Sheffield. But buckets from big man Donovan Clay and sharpshooting guard Prentiss Nixon saw Sheffield come back to take a victory at home.
The current season record means the Sharks will hold the head-to-head should their records be tied at the end of the season, but a victory for the Riders would mean a four-point swing in their favour as they hope to battle back and take the SLB Championship.
Tickets available: Kids go for a quid!
Tickets for this game are still available, and children under 16 go for a quid.
