Basketball: Derby make the final eight

Derby Storm and Thames Valley Tigers hauled themselves into contention for the final spot in the play-off quarter-finals, but Chester Jets slipped out of the frame for the Budweiser League title in the wake of a positive drugs test on their playmaker, Russ Saunders.

Saunders, the League's leading all-time scorer, was suspended on full pay by the Jets on Friday, who then lost 87-73 at home to the tenth-placed Tigers.

At Derby's Moor Lane venue the Storm took control of the second half with a 30-11 surge to overturn Leicester's 52-40 interval lead, and scored their last eight points from the free throw line, holding off the Riders for a 98-88 win to take eighth place from Leicester.

At the top Birmingham Bullets won 68-65 at Manchester Giants on Friday to close the gap on Leopards, the leaders, to four points. Sheffield Sharks joined Birmingham in joint second by beating the Bears 94-77 at Worthing on Saturday.