Six games made up league action on Saturday, with a big win for Hemel over Reading at the top of the table. The Rockets then ended Derby's KitKing defence on Sunday as they progressed to this year's Final, alongside 14 NBL National Cup ties that also took place yesterday.
We take a look back at all the weekend's action below, with links to live stats at the bottom of the page.
Hemel remained perfect on the year as they handed Reading a first home loss of the season on Saturday, with a 100-94 final score.
A 32-21 opening frame for the visitors would have Reading playing catch-up throughout and, despite getting their deficit below five more than once in the final frame, they'd never find a way to get back on level terms.
Hemel made the most of high percentage looks from around the basket, shooting 71% from inside the arc and enjoying half of their points from inside the paint.
That meant a solid afternoon for Storm forward Darien Nelson-Henry, who scored a game-high 24 points on 8/8 shooting that also included two made triples and a trio of rebounds and assists.
Five other players scored 11 or more for the visitors, including double-doubles for Tra' Michael Moton (14pts, 11ast) and Veron Eze (15pts, 12reb), as Sam Newman (11pts, 8reb, 8ast) neared triple-double territory.
Twenty-one points apiece from Victor Olarerin and Mitch Clarke helped keep the Rockets in the hunt, though with Ty Nsangu (13pts) the only other Reading player to make it to double-digit scoring, the hosts were always up against it.
Next up to challenge Hemel's perfect early record is Nottingham Hoods, who head to the reigning playoff champs next Saturday, with Reading looking to bounce back as they make the tough trip to Milton Keynes.
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Loughborough Riders (3-2) picked up their third win of the season at the expense of Nottingham Hoods (2-5), claiming an 80-53 victory to begin the weekend.
Loughborough's Victor Ndoukou enjoyed the standout performance of the game with 24 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists as team mate Michael Joiner poured in 21 points of his own.
Essex Rebels (3-4) couldn't overcome 15 points from Juan Manning and four other Thames Valley Cavaliers' (3-3) players scoring 12 or more as the Cavs claimed an 81-72 victory.
Derby Trailblazers (6-1) were once again without Malcolm Smith, Leighton Elliott-Sewell and David Simental but still found a way to edge past Bristol Hurricanes (3-3) 89-81.
That instead allowed Jonas Dieterich to step to the fore, and he drained a game-high 29 points to spearhead the Derby charge.
City of Birmingham Rockets (5-2) retained their spot in the top four as they saw off Newcastle Knights (2-5) 85-69, with CoB's Zack Powell (16pts, 6ast, 4reb) the pick of the bunch.
The big clash at the bottom of the standings went the way of Worthing Thunder (2-5), further increasing Bradford Dragons' (0-6) woes as they went down 84-79.
Trailing by as many as 18 points in the second quarter, Bradford fought back quickly to lead in the third and set up a tense finish to the game.
Twenty-six points from Elijah Maynard would eventually help Thunder to creep over the line, cancelling out a 25-point, 12-rebound double-double from Bradford's Kofi Josephs.
Reading Rockets avenged last season's semi-final defeat against Derby, ending the Trailblazers' KitKing defence is the process, following an 85-78 win.
The game seemed to be heading the way of the short-handed visitors, who led by as many as 13 points late in the first half. Reading would slowly chip away at that advantage though, with a pair of clutch Simon Chamberlain threes down the stretch handing Reading a late lead they'd never relinquish.
Derby were able to welcome back a less than 100% Leighton Elliott-Sewell (4pts, 2/4 FG) but captain Malcolm Smith and David Simental were still absent, and the Trophy holders just couldn't find an extra gear as the hosts roared back into the contest.
Forward Mo Walker (22pts, 5pts) had one of his best performances of the season for Derby, with Raheem May-Thompson adding 16 points.
Reading's Victor Olarerin would lead all scorers on 26 points as Chamberlain would splash five triples on his way to 19 points in support.
The Rockets will now move on to face Milton Keynes Breakers in this year's final, with the date and venue still TBC.
As if that wasn't enough for NBL fans, there were also 14 NBL National Cup ties yesterday to sift through.
Holders Milton Keynes Breakers made short work of D2's Endeavour Ipswich Basketball, winning 103-68, with fellow D1M side Hemel Storm also progressing after a 95-78 W against Barking Abbey.
Johde Campbell enjoyed a 15-point, 15-assist, 12-rebound triple-double as Nottingham Hoods beat Encon Derbyshire Arrows 116-80, but there was an upset on the South Coast as D1's Worthing Thunder were dumped out 106-75 by former winners Team Solent Kestrels.
For a full list of the round's results, see below.
1:30pm - Loughborough Riders 80-53 Nottingham Hoods - LIVE STATS / LIVE STREAM
6:30pm - Thames Valley Cavaliers 81-72 Essex Rebels - LIVE STATS
7:30pm - Reading Rockets 94-100 Hemel Storm - LIVE STATS / LIVE STREAM
7:30pm - Derby Trailblazers 89-81 Bristol Hurricanes - LIVE STATS
7:30pm - City of Birmingham Rockets 85-69 Newcastle Knights - LIVE STATS
7:30pm - Worthing Thunder 84-79 Bradford Dragons - LIVE STATS
4pm - Reading Rockets 85-78 Derby Trailblazers - LIVE STATS / LIVE STREAM
1pm - Nottingham Hoods 116-80 Encon Derbyshire Arrows - LIVE STATS / LIVE STREAM
2pm - Newcastle Knights 90-56 West Yorkshire Hawks - LIVE STREAM
2:30pm - Barking Abbey 78-95 Hemel Storm
3pm - Manchester Giants II 55-94 Bradford Dragons
3pm - Endeavour Ipswich Basketball 68-103 Milton Keynes Breakers
3pm - Thames Valley Cavaliers 116-95 Portsmouth Force - LIVE STATS
3:30pm - Loughborough Riders 86-77 Oxford Hoops - LIVE STATS / LIVE STREAM
4pm - St Helens Saints 77-84 Manchester Magic
4pm - Cardiff Met Archers 95-105 Bristol Hurricanes
5pm - City of Birmingham Rockets 104-52 Bristol Academy Flyers II - LIVE STATS
5pm - CoLA Southwark Pride 65-94 London Elite
5pm - Surrey Rams 84-111 Westminster Warriors
5pm - Worthing Thunder 75-106 Team Solent Kestrels - LIVE STATS
6:30pm - Essex Rebels 108-78 Essex Charge - LIVE STATS
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Main image credit - Nicola C Creative
