BCB WEEK 18: BIRMINGHAM ENJOY WINNING WEEKEND AND SHAKE UP TITLE RACE

Week 18 saw a shake-up at the summit as the top four created some breathing space between them and the remaining teams.

It also saw one side carry their tremendous momentum forward, while the other lost theirs as the road to the playoffs intensified.

Key Storylines

• Birmingham on a nine-game heater
• Reading slip up, but remain level with Newcastle
• MK Breakers keep up the pressure at the top
• Nottingham's six-game winning run stops at home 

Recap

The City of Birmingham Rockets (14-4) have made their statement, going unbeaten in nine games and shaking up the top of the table with two victories.

On Sunday, they inflicted a first home loss in the Championship on the Aldermore Reading Rockets (15-3) as an all-round dominant performance secured a 91-73 success. Eric Donaldson led the way for the winners with 25 points and eight rebounds, as Birmingham shot a sublime 51 percent from the field and led for the majority.

Victor Olarerin paced Reading with 22 points.

Before their win in Reading, Birmingham conquered the London Cavaliers (10-7) 92-84 in a hard-fought battle that saw the Rockets trail at the break only to come out firing on all cylinders in the third quarter.

They outscored the Cavs 28-11 in a frantic third period that changed the game and set them on a path to an unforgettable weekend.

Lucas McGregor had 18 points and seven assists to lead the Rockets, with Zack Powell adding 16. Daniel Braster posted a double-double of 21 points and 10 boards to lead London.

For Reading, there was some joy from the weekend, as Cooper Creek flirted with a double-double in their 72-54 victory over the Bristol Hurricanes (3-14) in the M4 derby.

Creek had 20 points and nine rebounds, helped by 14 points from Jax Bouknight, with Bristol led by a 17-point, 10-rebound statline from Daniel Edozie.

Another team quietly making their case for the league crown is the Milton Keynes Breakers (14-4), as they beat the Worthing Thunder (10-8) 91-71 at Bletchley with Jordan Spencer stealing the show with a triple-double.

The Breakers held Thunder to just 38 percent from the field as they started strong and never looked back in a double-digit win. Xavier Wilson led MK with 18 points, but it’s Spencer who takes the plaudits with 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in a stunning display.

For Worthing, Adrian Scarborough had 22 points and 11 rebounds against his former club.

Newcastle Knights (15-3) remain at the top of the table, albeit level on points with Reading, as Bradley Dean and Messiah Jones led six Knights players in double figures in their 112-87 win over a spirited Bristol Flyers II (0-18) side.

Dean had 21 points, five assists and seven steals, while Jones chipped in with 20 points and nine rebounds in the win.

Birmingham might be the form team in the BCB, but one other form team lost their groove as Yorkshire Dragons (9-9) ended Nottingham Hoods’ (9-9) unbeaten start to 2026 with a 100-94 win at Harvey Hadden.

Corey Johnson led the Dragons with 25 points, with standout showings from Jordan Whelan, who had 22 and Nicholas Lewis, who enjoyed 20 points and 13 assists.

Jai Pathmarajah led Derby Trailblazers (8-8) with 24 points as they secured a much-needed 91-83 win over the Essex Rebels (8-10), and Hemel Storm (5-13) got their second straight win as Brayden Inger led the way with 24 points in their 96-71 victory over the Loughborough Riders (4-14).