Leicester Riders are just one win away from the top of the BBL championship following back-to-back victories at the weekend.

Newcastle Eagles were without a game, so it was a chance for Rob Paternostro’s side to gain more ground on their rivals as they took on Surrey Scorchers and Bristol Flyers.

Away to the Scorchers on Friday, the Riders almost came up empty-handed before eventually prevailing, 85-82.

The home side lead 82-78 with 25 seconds remaining but the Riders would snatch victory away by closing out the game with a 7-0 run.

Drew Sullivan and Tyler Bernardini both had 18 points to lead the Riders while Surrey’s KC Ross-Miller led all scorers with 22.

It was a more straightforward affair on Saturday as the Riders handed Bristol a 90-52 defeat, behind a game-high 18 points from Trevor Gruis.

That defeat, coupled with a 78-70 loss at the Sheffield the previous evening leaves the Flyers needing to win all their remaining games if they are to have any hope of reaching the Play-Offs.

The Flyers looked on course for a much-needed win after taking a 65-58 lead midway through the final quarter, but the Sharks then replied with a quick-fire 12-0 run.

Jerrold Brooks scored seven of his game-high 26 points in this stretch and the Sharks never looked back, going on to record a victory that moves them to within two points of the inactive Worcester Wolves.

Leeds Force’s hopes of reaching the Play-Offs also suffered a blow after their 77-65 loss at Glasgow Rocks on Sunday.

Warren Gillis poured in 34 points as the Rocks beat the Force for a second straight week and kept their own hopes of a possible third-place finish.

The game of the afternoon was down in Devon as the Cheshire Phoenix squeaked out an 82-81 victory at Plymouth Raiders, after erasing a 16-point deficit in the third quarter.

The Phoenix were able to edge into the lead for the start of the fourth quarter and were able to keep that lead through the period although Raiders did have chances to snatch a victory at the end.

“We were 12 down at halftime so we tweaked a couple of things and stepped up a couple of gears defensively, and were able to go into the fourth quarter with a lead,” said Phoenix coach John Lavery.

“We were able to maintain it and I thought we were comfortable until the last thirty-odd seconds when it was anybody’s game.

“We had three open looks and didn’t knock any down. They came down with the ball with three seconds left, threw up a prayer but thankfully we came away with a victory.

“It doesn’t matter how we win, as long as we pick up some wins.”

Kinu Rochford had a 26-point, 14-rebound performance to lead the Phoenix, while the Raiders were led by player-coach Daryl Corletto’s 28 points.

It was another one-point game when the Manchester Giants and Surrey Scorchers met in a battle of two teams for whom the Play-Offs are now out of the equation.

Surrey went into game in last place but are now up to 11th after their 74-73 success, KC Ross-Miller leading the Scorchers with 17 points while Stefan Gill had a game-high 21 points in vain for the Giants.