It’s looking like Riders v Lions in Sunday’s BBL play-off final
LONDON BLOW AWAY BRISTOL FLYERS IN THE FINAL QUARTER
IF, as expected, Leicester Riders make it through to the BBL play-off final at the O2 Arena on Sunday at the expense of Glasgow Rocks, their opponents will be the London Lions, who were pre-season favourites to sweep up all silverware in the BBL.
The Lions booked their final appearance after an incredible fourth quarter performance over Bristol Flyers in the second leg of the semi-final at the Copper Box.
With the tie in the balance, the Lions blew away the Flyers with a 31-18 final quarter to win the second leg 91-73, and the tie 176-156 on aggregate.
Bristol started the game well with an 8-2 points run, but London regrouped and the game was quickly tied.
Isaiah Reese led the Lions with 16 first half points while Trejon Jacob racked up 14 points for the Flyers on 6-7 shooting off the bench.
London held a four-point lead in the game and a six-point lead on aggregate going into half-time, and they edged the third quarter 14-13.
The sensational Reese then erupted in the final quarter with a series of scores and assists to book their final berth.
Reese finished with 28 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and six steals in a dominant showing, while Dirk Williams added 26 points.
In the first leg in Bristol on Friday, Flyers started 10-0 from tip-off.
The Lions forced six early turnovers as they got back to 15-13, before Flyers scored another 10 straight points.
In a game of constant lead changes, the first leg looked like it might be tied when Josh Rogers hit a three-pointer with 35 seconds remaining.
But former Memphis Grizzlies NBA player Julian Washburn made the final basket of the game to give Lions a two-point edge from the first leg.
Reese finished with a game-high 24 points, completing a double-double with 12 assists.
Riders and the Lions have met seven times already this season, with Riders winning five and losing two, including a pair of victories in the semi-finals of the BBL Cup.