Surrey Scorchers aim to make it three straight home wins in the British Basketball League on Saturday when in-form Seriös Group Newcastle Eagles are the visitors.
There is undoubtedly a good aura amongst the Scorchers fans right now. For the last two seasons, succumbing to being the League’s basement side, they have reinvigorated themselves in the previous month after a slow start.
Two wins out of their last three have seen Lloyd Gardner’s side climb away from the bottom two and into eighth in the standings.
Both victories came against the Bristol Flyers before their mini-run was halted last Sunday against Cheshire Phoenix.
For Newcastle, they end their two-game southern adventure looking to make it six wins in a row.
Indeed, the hottest team in the British Basketball League right now, the Eagles took advantage of a tired London Lions team that had a physical BKT EuroCup game the night before and convincingly brushed them aside 102-80 on Thursday.
Two teams are certainly high on confidence in what promises to be an intriguing battle.
The return of Austin Jr.
In a way, the loss of Larry Austin Jr. throughout November injury didn’t seem to slow the Eagles down too much.
Newcastle adjusted and, after a slow start to the season, are now rapidly climbing up the standings.
However, whenever you get a player like Austin Jr., who averaged 15.9 points on 52.8% shooting last season with Cheshire and, despite the lay-off, is posting 11.6 points a game for the Eagles, you’ll always take it.
Thursday night, Austin Jr. didn’t miss a beat. He played a little over 19 minutes, going 6/9 from the field for 14 points, dishing seven assists and getting three steals.
More minutes against Surrey could be on the cards.
Live by the three
No team in the British Basketball League takes more three-point attempts than the Surrey Scorchers, but it is working for them in this spell.
On average, they take 11 shots a game from long-range, good for 35.6% so far, but one telling stat is that only the Bristol Flyers shoot a lower field goal percentage, with the Scorchers going 41.9%.
They were a combined 22/60 from three-point range in their two wins recently over Bristol, and with Padiet Wang, Jordan Hunt and Josh Steel in good form, Saturday’s hosts could be looking to make it rain.
With the season here, you can still get your British Basketball fix by following the League on social media or heading to our YouTube channel to relive all of the best moments from the current season.
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