The Leicester Riders fell to an 89–70 defeat against the London Lions in the first leg of their Super League Basketball Playoff Semi-Final, leaving them with work to do ahead of Sunday’s second leg at the Copper Box Arena.
After their dramatic comeback victory over the Sheffield Sharks in the Quarter-Finals, the Riders entered the Semi-Final full of belief, but a strong London Lions performance saw the visitors take control and build a valuable first-leg advantage.
The Leicester Riders now travel to London for the second leg on Sunday, with tip-off scheduled for 4:00PM.
Riders Start Strong at the Mattioli Arena
The Leicester Riders opened the game with energy, as Aaron Menzies got the home side off the mark with an early finish inside.
Menzies continued to find success in the paint, while Flynn Boardman-Raffet added points from the free-throw line as Leicester looked to settle into the contest.
Travis Evee and Victor Ndoukou both contributed offensively, with Ndoukou knocking down a key three-pointer to bring the Riders within one midway through the first quarter.
However, London responded well through Tarik Phillip, Chaundee Brown Jr and Aaryn Rai, closing the opening period strongly to lead 25–17.
London Lions Build First-Half Advantage
The Lions carried their momentum into the second quarter, with Aaryn Rai and Ethan Price helping London extend their lead.
Aaron Menzies continued to battle inside for the Riders, while Kedrian Johnson and Travis Evee looked to create opportunities on offence.
Despite flashes from Leicester, London’s depth and efficiency proved difficult to contain, with Deane Williams, Joel Scott and Kameron McGusty all making key contributions.
A late alley-oop finish from Williams helped London take a 49–28 lead into halftime.
Riders Show Fight After the Break
The Leicester Riders came out after halftime looking to respond, with Flynn Boardman-Raffet finishing inside early in the third quarter.
Travis Evee provided a spark for Leicester, attacking the basket and scoring from beyond the arc as the Riders began to chip away at the deficit.
Aaron Menzies added important points inside, while Kedrian Johnson converted from the free-throw line as Leicester looked to build momentum.
Boardman-Raffet’s step-back three late in the quarter brought the home crowd back to life, but a Morayo Soluade three-pointer gave London a 60–53 lead heading into the final period.
Lions Pull Away in Final Quarter
Leicester began the fourth quarter brightly, with Travis Evee scoring early before Boardman-Raffet knocked down a three-pointer to cut the gap.
However, London responded with key scores from Tarik Phillip and Aaryn Rai, before Chaundee Brown Jr and Kameron McGusty helped the Lions regain control.
Evee continued to fight for the Riders, while Xavier Bledson and Menzies added points late on, but London’s execution in the closing stages proved decisive.
The Lions closed out the game from the free-throw line, securing an 89–70 victory.
Leicester Riders Look Ahead to Second Leg
The Leicester Riders now face a major challenge as they travel to the Copper Box Arena for Sunday’s second leg against the London Lions.
Despite the defeat, the tie is not over, and the Riders will be looking to produce another big playoff response after already showing their resilience in the previous round.
With a place in the Super League Basketball Playoff Final still on the line, Rob Paternostro’s side will need a huge performance in London as they look to overturn the deficit and keep their season alive.
