Paternostro's side have lost their opening two BBL fixtures this season

Leicester Riders coach Rob Paternostro admitted his side did not deserve to take anything from their defeat against league leaders Chester Jets.

Riders lost their nine-month unbeaten home record, losing 71-66 at the John Sandford Centre on Saturday.

Paternostro told BBC Radio Leicester: "We did a lot of things to hurt ourselves all night. If we had won that game, we would have been fortunate.

"They outplayed us most of the game and were smarter than us."

The Jets almost threw away a 16-point lead and rode their luck in a nervous finish as the hosts battled back but a fast-break score by Jeremy Bell ensured an away win.

Paternostro was also upset that he was penalised for a technical foul.

It was a tough loss but they're a good team and I expect us to get better. The key thing is to learn from this Rob Paternostro

"I don't think the referee had any right to call a technical foul in that situation," Paternostro said. "I didn't say anything too him I just jumped up in the air and he gave me a technical foul.

"I don't want to make a big deal out of it, we have to be better as a basketball team because for the most part we were poor.

"It was a tough loss but they're a good team and I expect us to get better. The key thing is to learn from this."

Riders play the away leg of their two-legged BBL Trophy semi-final against Guildford Heat on Saturday night.

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