Newcastle Eagles v Manchester Giants
Where: Eagles Community Arena, Scotswood Road, Newcastle, NE4 7AF
When: Friday, February 8, tip-off 7.30pm
What: BBL Championship
Manchester Giants v London Lions
Where: George H Carnall, Kingsway Park, Urmston, M41 7FJ
When: Sunday, February 10, tip-off 5pm
What: BBL Trophy semi-final first leg
News
Fresh from their stunning double-overtime win over the Wolves, the Giants are straight back into another huge double-header weekend.
Danny Byrne takes his men to Newcastle – where the Giants won in the Trophy recently – with Croatian Vlatko Granic welcomed back into the fold for a Friday-night league game following illness.
Another win would boost the team’s play-off ambitions (they are currently eighth in the standings) and raise morale further going into a tough Sunday showdown with the table-topping Lions in the first leg of the BBL Trophy semi-final at George Carnall.
It’s all to play for.
Tickets
For the home clash vs the Lions buy online here – Adults £12, Concessions £9, Junior £7, Family £30.
You will be able to pay cash on the day, though tickets are subject to a £2 increase.
Giants fans can pay on the door at Newcastle on Friday.
What the coach is saying
Danny Byrne: “We pulled off a win we had no right to really against the Wolves. They are a well-resourced team and we had three of our main players – Vlatko, Torry Butler and James Jones – missing. But we did it and I couldn’t be more proud of the effort the players gave.
“Now we have another demanding weekend. Vlatko is back, so that is a boost, and we go to Newcastle having beaten them recently so they will be conscious of that and trying to make adjustments.
“Sunday is a big one. The Lions are flying high and have a deep roster but we have a great crowd behind us in the new venue. The fans are very close to the court and created a great noise against the Wolves, so we will need that again. It was great.
“We’ll give it another good shot.”
Top tweets
⭐5️⃣ | Week 18@Con_Air11 @JoshWilcher @AyoMCJr11 @Vic24_7 @willieclayton21
? https://t.co/uul8oS29sN#BritishBasketball pic.twitter.com/jlMCBMikHp
— British Basketball League (@BBLofficial) February 5, 2019
? @BBLofficial Plays of the Week:
1⃣ Mike McCall Jr (@AyoMCJr11) saves the game, getting up off the floor for an unreal three-pointer with 0.9s left in 1OT.
2⃣ Willie Clayton (@willieclayton21) wins the game with a big block, 1s left in 2OT.#beeGIANT?? #BritishBasketball https://t.co/c9Bi175xDB
— Manchester Giants ? (@McrGiants) February 6, 2019
Team news
Vlatko Granic returns for the Giants. James Jones remains absent with an ankle injury.
Watch live online
Every game in the BBL is live streamed online this year. You can watch the game on Livebasketball.tv, or through various partners, including bet365.
Eagles v Giants game live stats here
Giants v Lions game live stats here
Merchandise
A range of merchandise will be available.