READING Rockets endured a difficult weekend as they slumped to a brace of defeats in Division One of the National Basketball League.

They fell to a 93-82 reverse at home to table-topping Manchester Magic on Sunday, having previously been edged out 98-95 at Hemel Storm the night before.

Rockets began the game against Manchester in competitive fashion, but after the opening skirmishes when the game was tied on 10 apiece, Magic went on a 46-28 run which saw them comfortable at the interval with a 56-38 advantage.

However, the never-say-die Rockets stormed back to take the third period 24-15 to find themselves just nine points adrift for the final quarter, Magic leading 71-62.

D’Montre Edwards scored 10 points in the final period as Rockets reduced Magic’s lead to just six points with a couple of minutes to go, but the three point accuracy of Magic ultimately was the difference and they held on to return to the north as the winners.

Edwards top scored for Rockets with 27 points and five rebounds, David Ajumobi hit 20 points and captain Danny Carter contributed 15.

Rockets started in fine fashion against Hemel Storm as Jordan Nicholls hit a pair of treble as the visitors took an early 15-8 advantage.

However, Hemel hit back after taking a timeout and improved significantly as they surged into a 27-22 lead at the first break.

Ben Allison scored nine points in the second quarter as Edwards stroked a brace of trebles and Carter another but Storm’s defence and clinical finishing saw them increase their lead to 55-46 at the interval.

Rockets dominated the third quarter as Dian Ivanov, Allison, Ajumobi and Nicholls all caught fire to cut the gap to 79-77.

However, they made a series of errors in the final quarter which shifted the momentum back to Storm, and despite Carter hitting a treble to see Rockets just one point adrift with 16.5 on the clock, the hosts hit a pair of free throws and a final Reading effort rimmed out to allow Hemel the win.