Kathmandu: Top two sides GoldenGate Basketball Club and Tribhuvan Army Club secured crucial victories in the National Basketball League at the Dasharath Stadium covered hall on Thursday.

In the first match, GoldenGate defeated KVC Hounds 91-88 while Army overcame Times Basketball Club 97–85 strengthening their grip on the top of the standings securing 11th victories each.

GoldenGate led three quarters 26–22, 27-19 and 18-17 while both sides were tied on 20 points each in the second. Winning team’s Nikesh Magar contributed 21 points and was named player-of-the-match.

The 11th win from 12 games puts GoldenGate atop the standings with 23 points. Hounds, meanwhile, suffered their fourth defeat and second against GoldenGate having lost 91-87 in the first leg. The outcome also ended Hounds’ eight-game winning streak. They are fourth in the table with 20 points from 12 matches.

In the second match, Army avenged the first leg defeat against Times to earn 23 points from 13 matches, equal to toppers GoldenGate but remained second on point difference. Times, who suffered their second defeat, are third with 22 points. They had earlier lost to GoldenGate in their opening match.

The defeat also snapped Times’ 10-game winning streak.

Army led the first three quarters, 29–26, 24–22, 23–10 before losing fourth 21-27. Army’s Nischal Maharjan top score with 21 points and was named player-of-the-match.

A total of eight teams are competing in the second edition of the League organised by the Nepal Basketball Association (NeBA).