London Lions held off a late Leicester Riders surge to secure a 70–66 victory in a tightly contested affair that hinged on the opening two quarters. The Lions controlled the pace from the opening tip, building a 20–10 lead after one quarter and extending it to 43–27 at half-time. A decisive 12-point run mid-way through the second quarter — pushing the score from 10–10 to 22–10 — proved the foundation of their win. Leicester battled back through the third period, outscoring London 16–14 to narrow the deficit, but the Lions had stretched their advantage to 20 points by the 02:10 mark of that quarter, standing at 57–37. That cushion would prove vital. The fourth quarter belonged to Leicester. They erupted for 23 points to London's 13, turning the final two minutes into a genuine test of nerve. A one-possession game inside the closing moments set up a tense finale, but London held on. Ethan Price anchored the Lions with 19 points on efficient shooting (9/16 FG) and eight rebounds, whilst Joshua O'Garro added 14 points, including three from range. Bernard Pelote led Leicester with a double-double of 15 points and 15 rebounds, and Deante Johnson Jr matched him on 15 points, but it was not enough to complete the comeback. London Lions visit Cheshire Phoenix on Sunday 18 October, whilst Leicester Riders host Bristol Flyers on Friday 9 October.