Leicester Riders take on Sheffield Sharks over two legs in the Super League Basketball Playoffs Semi-Final.
The First Leg will be played at Canon Medical Arena, Sheffield, on Friday, May 9, before the return leg on Sunday, May 11, in Leicester.
These sides have shared some of the most entertaining, closely fought battles in British basketball this season, and now go head-to-head for the right to play in the Playoff Final at the O2 Arena.
Here’s what you need to know ahead of the First Leg.
Fixture information
Sheffield Sharks vs Leicester Riders
Super League Basketball Playoffs Semi-Final First Leg
Canon Medical Arena, Sheffield
Friday, May 9, 7:30 pm
Leicester Riders beat Bristol Flyers comfortably in Quarter-Finals
The Riders brushed Bristol aside in the Playoff Quarter-Finals. They won 164-135 over two legs, and went into the fourth quarter leading by 42 points.
The hard work was done in the opening leg. Leicester beat Bristol by 23 points, holding the Flyers to four points in the first six minutes of the second half to grow their lead. The Riders built a similar advantage in the Second Leg to seal the win in front of their home crowd.
Leicester’s leading scorer on the season, Zach Jackson, impressed over the two legs. He averaged 17.5 points and 4 rebounds on an efficient 57% from the field, maintaining his regular-season form in the postseason.
The Riders now face a sterner test in the Semi-Finals against the Cup-winning Sheffield Sharks.
Sheffield Sharks rally in Second Leg to beat Cheshire Phoenix
It was not smooth sailing for the Sharks in their first-round playoff matchup. They had to battle back against Cheshire after losing by 10 points on the road in the First Leg.
A 99-82 win got the job done at home, but the game came down to the clutch through a gritty Phoenix effort. It was a four-point game on aggregate with under a minute remaining before 5 points from Rickey McGill got them over the line.
McGill, a midseason acquisition, went off for an incredible 31 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists in the Second Leg to see the Sharks through to the Semi-Final. He was backed by 17 from Prentiss Nixon, who scored 22 in the First Leg.
McGill is an ever-dangerous threat, as proved by his miraculous game-tying shot last time Sheffield came to Leicester.
Leicester Riders vs Sheffield Sharks: Season series
In their final meeting of the season, the Riders pulled off a miraculous win against Sheffield Sharks without three of their key players.
Duke Shelton and Conner Washington both missed the game, and Jaylin Hunter picked up his second technical foul midway through the fourth. But the Riders dug deep and overcame McGill’s last-second heroics in regulation to win 100-95 in overtime, led by 28 from Jackson.
That was the Riders’ first win against Sheffield in their four meetings during the season, but the sides pushed each other to the limit throughout the year. Two of the three Sheffield wins were decided by a single score- the Riders missing shots on the buzzer on both occasions.
The Riders beat the Sharks to the second seed with a 23-9 record during the league season, meaning they’re rewarded with the advantage of a home Second Leg in front of the Leicester crowd. But a good start to the series, such as the Riders’ win in Bristol, is pivotal should they want to progress to the Final.
Tickets to the Second Leg only £10!
The Second Leg of this matchup is on Sunday, May 11 at 3pm, and all tickets are £10!
