Leicester Riders start 2025 with a trip to Newcastle on Friday January 3, taking on the Eagles for the fourth time this season.
The historic rivals have shared the floor in some of the most enthralling matchups of the inaugural Super League Basketball season, fighting wire-to-wire over two legs in the Trophy semi-final and facing off at the Mattioli Arena in league action.
Vertu Motors Arena will now host the latest iteration of the tie, with the Riders looking towards the top of the table after six league wins on the bounce.
Here’s everything you need to know about the season series so far…
Riders defence
Despite the season series being tied with a win each, and a tie in the Trophy semi-final second leg, the Riders are winning the matchup by a points difference of 20 after an 89-65 win in the League.
Leicester held Newcastle to 31% shooting from the field and 14% shooting from three in an impressive performance to continue the Riders’ league winning streak.
The Riders defence has been a defining characteristic of their season so far, allowing the fewest points of any team, but allowed a season-high 95 points in regulation in Newcastle for the Trophy Semi Final first leg.
The Eagles caught fire from three, shooting 40% from deep behind three triples from Cole Long. However, after allowing 59 in the first half, the Riders solved their defensive puzzle in the second half to come back from 19 points down.
The Eagles average 83.9 points per game this season, but scored an average of 74 points in their games in Leicester against the League’s leading defence. Have the Riders cracked the code for slowing Newcastle down, or will the Eagles’ find their shooting form on their return to the North East?
Okauru vs Jackson
Newcastle have a top five scorer in their ranks in Mike Okauru, who is putting up 17.6 points per game in the League this season. He showed off the full force of his scoring powers last time out in Leicester with 34 points in the semi-final, leading Newcastle through a nail biting finish.
The game was a reminder to the Riders of the American guard’s scoring potential, after holding him to 12 points per game in the prior fixtures. He shouldered the scoring load in 37 minutes of action, taking 24 shots, making them at a 60% clip and hitting them from all over the floor.
Okauru is 53% from the field and 40% from three this season- his best three point shooting season since his Freshman year in college with the Florida Gators. He averaged 18.4 points per game in his rookie year in Czechia, and looks to be in the midst of another high-level scoring season this year.
Meanwhile the Riders possess their own elite scoring threat, who has enjoyed success against the North Easterners in the season series between these teams. Zach Jackson is averaging 19.3 points per game against the Eagles in his three appearances, scoring 24 to lead a comeback in the first leg of the Trophy Semi-Final.
Jackson is the Club’s leading scorer on the season with 17 points per game, and has scored double digit points in every game. The biggest moments of the year have seen Jackson step up in the fourth quarter for clutch buckets, including late scores in both Semi-Final legs.
The Riders have one of the most reliable all around performers in British basketball in Jackson, and someone that can go bucket for bucket with anybody in the League.
Riders suffer slow starts
In both semi-final legs, the Riders were forced to dig themselves out of a sizable hole after starting slowly in the tie. They were down 19 at the half in the first leg after allowing a 38 point second quarter for the Eagles, and down 20 in the second leg going into the final period.
The first leg saw a second half fightback giving the Riders a shot for the lead in the final minute, and in the second leg the Riders nearly pulled off a miracle fourth quarter comeback to battle their way into the final. But on both occasions they fell short, and fell victim to their slow starts to the games.
This is something they remedied against London and Bristol after Christmas. Leicester led by 12 in the first period against London last time out, and 14 in the first quarter against Bristol, holding out for the win on both occasions.
The Riders will look to follow the trend of quick starts against Newcastle, and right the wrongs of the semi-final.
