Game 3 of the Manchester Giants Trophy campaign saw them at home for the first time during this trophy season as they hosted the British Basketball League Championship leaders the London Lions. 

Both teams came into this game from opposite positions, London travelled to Manchester topping the group at 2-0 whereas Manchester were yet to find their first win and looking to get it tonight against the top of the table. 

The last time these two teams took the court against each other it ended in an overtime spectacle that broke Mancunian hearts and subsequently increased London’s gap at the top of the table, besting Manchester by 8 points. 

Nick Stampley drew first blood as he hit a 3 ball in the face of former NBA player David Nwaba. The new London Lion Nwaba hit back with a pair from the charity stripe and followed it up with a fastbreak dunk. Manchester kept pushing on through William Lee who was scoring from midrange and from three with ease notching 10 points in this quarter alone. London remained solid defensively giving the giants very little later in the quarter especially from the perimeter. Manchester took what the defence gave them and managed to keep going to the interior to keep the scores close at 21-24 to end the first quarter. 

Legend Robertin picked up where he left off from the 1st quarter, showing off the gentle touch around the rim as Evan Walshe tied up the game from 3 point range. London put themselves ahead once more as Olaseni converted a midrange hookshot as Nelson followed that up from 3. 

Despite the best efforts from Manchester, the Lions trio of Matt Morgan, Conner Morgan and David Nwaba have consistently managed to keep the lead firmly in Lions territory. The trio even managed to stretch the lead to double digits before Nicholas Lewis hit from 3 at the top of the key and later beat the buzzer on a floater over the outstretched hands of the London defenders. The Giants trailed by 5 to end the half. 

Second Half: 

London started the quarter off hot with 5 unanswered points through Olaseni and Nwaba. Legend Robertin and Nicholas Lewis answered right back with 5 points of their own. London would once again re-establish their double digit lead through another scoring run this time of 7-0. Manchester did attempt to claw their way back into this game, the efforts of William Lee, Nicholas Lewis and Nick Stampley offensively combined with defensive displays from Jalen Harris and William Lee saw the giants down by a single possession with 2 minutes left in the quarter.

Those last 2 minutes saw Evan Walshe tie the game with a tough layup around Josh Sharma. Jalen Harris blew the roof off the National Basketball Performance Centre with a 3 ball in double coverage that was nothing but net to put the Giants up by 1 heading into the final quarter. 

Jalen Harris went to the line to strike first in the final quarter before London put their foot on the accelerator once more, David Nwaba and Matt Morgan put London up by 5 before Mason Bourcier connected from 3. Matt Morgan and William Lee traded baskets and cut the Lions lead to a single point. The lead changed hands at the midway point as a pair of Nicholas Lewis free throws were nothing but net. A big Evan Walshe three ball put the Giants up by 3. Nwaba got on the end of a fastbreak and made it a 1 point advantage for Manchester with 3 minutes left. The hope was short lived for Giants fans as Matt Morgan and Gabriel Olaseni combined and put the game out of Giants reach. 

Stats: 

Nicholas Lewis: 25 Points, 8 Assists, 5 Steals, 42%FG.

William Lee: 24 Points, 12 Rebounds, 2 Steals, 42%FG.

Nick Stampley: 10 Points, 8 Rebounds, 66%3PT, 80%FT.

A quick turnaround for Manchester as they are back in action Sunday 14th January as they face off against the Bristol Flyers in their final game of the British Basketball League Trophy. Tip off will be at the National Basketball Performance Centre and scheduled for 3:00pm with the Manchester Giants Women’s team playing right after at 6:00pm. A double header of brilliant basketball. 

All highlights from Friday's game in the British Basketball League Trophy will be available to view below: