As the ball went up Leicester started the game with patience as one of the most composed teams in the BBL. Riders would feed Henry down low early to open the scoring and he would go on to have quite the night ending with 21 points on 100% shooting.
In the opening 5 minutes both teams traded points at either end as Scorchers led by a narrow 2 points. The home side did a great job in throwing MVP Geno Crandall out of rhythm going scoreless in the first quarter.
Jules Dang-Akodo subbed in for Davis Jr and entered the game hot with 7 points. Big man Desmond Ringers went to work banging down low in the paint using his speed against Leicesters twin towers Walker and Henry.
After a highflying catch and finish from Loving the Riders got out in transition to close out the quarter with a 17-21 lead.
Caylin Raftopoulos starts the 2nd quarter for Scorchers and banks in his opening shot from deep. Also adding energy from the bench Wanliss starts the 2nd to get a big stop on Mo Walker, Scorchers transitions the other way as Davis Jr weaves in and out of the defence for a tough finish on the Leicester big men.
Crandall finds cutting Riders players on the fast break followed by a deep 3 pointer to put the Riders in front by 9 points. Desmond Ringer responds as he moves to 8 points after excellent footwork inside the paint and finishing in traditional big fashion.
On one of the final possessions of the half Loving followed up Whelan’s missed layup and rose above the Surrey defence to throw the ball down with two hands and stun the Surrey fans.
Riders finish the quarter strong as the away side stretch out a 15-point cushion behind a dominating first half 12 points from Marc Loving.
Lamar Hamrick explodes out of the locker room for a quick 6 points scoring in a multitude of ways. His offensive energy transcends at the other end as the Portland state guard takes a charge on MVP Crandall to make it a 13-point game.
The momentum with Scorchers, Ringer finds a cutting Thomas to slam one home to reduce the score line to 12 points and the Scorchers fans were on their feet.
Riders proving why they sit top of the table as they put a stop to Scorchers run and hold the lead for the last 5 minutes. Geno Crandall doing Geno Crandall things as he throws a no look behind the head pass to Jackson who finds the net from 3.
Devin Thomas finds a mismatch to get a bucket and the foul whilst McLemore adds a 3-pointer take us within 9 as we enter the last minute of the quarter.
Kimbal Mackenzie finishes the period with a layup for the Riders, ending the third with the score 62-51 in Leicester’s favour.
Both teams trade buckets for the opening 3 minutes as Scorchers are held at the 10-point mark.
With 5 minutes left in the game. Whelan hit a big 3 followed by a strong finish at the hoop to shift the momentum and give the Riders breathing room as coach Creon is forced to call a time out.
This burst in offense from Whelan propelled the Leicester side to a 10-0 run cementing a comfortable victory for the away side.
Final Score 60 – 82.
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