Five D1M games made up the final batch of action as teams head into the mid-season break, with Hemel leading the way ahead of a three-team race for second.
Reading Rockets were able to end the dreams of 2021/22 NBL National Cup winners Team Solent Kestrels to book their spot in the semi-finals, whilst Hemel came up just short after giving Manchester a scare in the SLB Cup.
We take a look back at all the weekend's action below, with links to live stats at the bottom of the page.
Loughborough provided further evidence of their top-four credentials with an impressive 74-55 road win against Essex.
Both teams entered the weekend with two of the division's top three defences so a low-scoring contest was far from unexpected, but the Riders held their opponents to just five third-quarter points and 20 for the second-half total as they swept to their eighth win of the season.
The game was relatively even up to the main change, with neither side leading by double digits and both teams taking opportunities to go ahead. The second half would be in sharp contrast though, with the visitors running away with proceedings the longer the game wore on.
Justin Hedley (19pts, 5reb, 4ast) was the standout for the Riders as Dan Hadley and Edward Onyia (13pts each) both played well in support.
Emmanuel Kanwei (17pts, 11reb) was the main source of resistance for Essex with a useful double-double, but it wouldn't be enough to overcome a tough day at the office for last season's league runners up.
Both teams now head into the mid-season break with the rest of D1M before sparking back to life on 11 January. Essex will be the latest team to head to Hemel with hopes of ending their unbeaten run, and Loughborough host Bradford Dragons.
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Milton Keynes Breakers (5-4) end the year in the playoff spots after a pair of 25 points outings from Adrian Scarborough and Nate Robinson helped Billy Beddow-Patel's side to a 113-88 victory against Worthing Thunder (2-9).
Bristol Hurricanes (6-5) also finished strong, making it 10 without a win for bottom side Bradford Dragons (0-10), 78-66.
Bristol led from tip to buzzer and enjoyed a lead that touched 28 points early in the third before a late Bradford fightback. Vilmantas Dilys (19pts, 7reb) and Panos Mayindombe (12pts, 7ast) did the damage for the hosts, with Justin Williams (23pts) dropping a game-high total for the Dragons.
Derby Trailblazers' (8-3) enjoyed a throwback point guard outing from Charlie Brown to knock off Nottingham Hoods (2-9), winning 118-100.
Brown shot the ball just once in the contest but pulled down 10 boards and dished a mighty 18 assists for the double-double, instead leaving the scoring the Trailblazers' captain Malcolm Smith (30pts, 5reb). Nottingham's Jun Murdock (29pts) deserves a nod for his effort in the losing cause.
That just left Reading (8-3) to win the "Battle of the Rockets" on Sunday against City of Birmingham (5-7), coming out on top 90-85.
Reading led for the duration of the second half but CoB got their deficit down to a single basket multiple times to give the contest a real buzz. The telling bucket would prove elusive for the visitors though, allowing Reading to prevail and snag a share of second spot heading into 2025.
Mitch Clarke (23pts, 3reb, 3ast) paced the hosts, with Zack Powell (21pts, 7ast, 5reb) the standout for Birmingham.
It was double delight for Reading as they began the weekend by booking their spot in this year's NBL National Cup semi-finals with a 96-83 victory over D2's Team Solent Kestrels.
After an even start, the Rockets' offence clicked into gear and the visitors just couldn't keep pace. A 27-17 second quarter was followed up by a 27-18 third that provided a more than ample cushion for last season's runners up to progress.
Victor Olarerin and former Kestrel Zane Poorman (18pts each), plus a 10-point, nine-assist outing from fellow guard Mitch Clarke kept Reading ticking over, but it was 29 points from Justin Hopkins that did the damage for coach Nuruzade's side.
Twenty points from former D1M standout Andre Arissol plus 17 more Greg Durand kept TSK in the contest but it would be an uphill battle against the in-form Rockets.
Reading now join Hemel, Newcastle and Derby in the semi-finals, with the Rockets earning a road trip to take on the Trailblazers in the New Year.
It wasn't to be for D1M's cohort in the SLB Cup as Hemel joined Derby, Nottingham, Reading and Essex in falling at the competition's first hurdle on Saturday.
Storm went down 93-73 against Manchester, though the defending D1M playoff champs led by nine late in the second quarter before coming unstuck.
A 25-13 third would send the contest in Manchester's favour, sealing the deal from there behind 22 points from Nathan Cayo as Makai Ashton-Langford (11pts, 8ast) also played well.
Hemel welcomed back former New Zealand international Brayden Inger, who has signed for the remainder of the season, but it was Matt Ellis (18pts, 14reb) who would lead the way for the hosts as Inger (8pts, 5reb) eased himself back into the rotation.
5pm - Milton Keynes Breakers 113-88 Worthing Thunder - LIVE STATS
5:30pm - Bristol Hurricanes 78-66 Bradford Dragons - LIVE STATS
6:30pm - Nottingham Hoods 100-118 Derby Trailblazers - LIVE STATS
6:30pm - Essex Rebels 55-74 Loughborough Riders - LIVE STATS
7pm - Hemel Storm 73-93 Manchester - LIVE STATS
4pm - Reading Rockets 96-83 Team Solent Kestrels - LIVE STATS / LIVE STREAM
4:00pm - Reading Rockets 90-85 City of Birmingham Rockets - LIVE STATS / LIVE STREAM
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Main image credit - Nathan Green
