The Sparks coast to a 97-88 win over the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday night. They improved to 2-3 for the season.
Kelsey Plum was leading the offensive charge early for LA with their six points. She started a perfect 2-2- from deep. Natasha Mack had four points for Phoenix. Cameron Brink knocked down a triple for the first bench points for Los Angeles of the night.
At the 4:51 mark, the Sparks were up by three.
Plum was now at eight points for the half. Ariel Atkins and Brink were close behind with five
and six points, respectively. LA was having a decent night from behind the arc, shooting 50%, while the Mercury were shooting 33%.
Los Angeles was up by one at the end of the first.
Dearica Hamby started the scoring in the second period with a putback layup off a missed jumpshot from Nneka Ogwumike. Nneka had a great start to the quarter after that missed shot, draining two 3-pointers for Los Angeles.
Brink now had nine off the bench after converting on a three-point play.
Plum knocked down her fourth triple of the half. She was the first player from either side in double figures with 14 points. Los Angeles was shooting a red-hot 62% from the field. The Sparks jumped ahead by 14.
Nneka was now the second Spark in double figures with 10 points. She surpassed Tamika Catchings for fifth all-time on the WNBA’s scoring list.
Marta Suarez drained a much-needed three for the Mercury. Suarez also picked up her fifth foul. At halftime, the purple and gold were up by 17.
Atkins started the third period on fire, draining two 3-pointers in a row for the Sparks. Hamby joined in on the party, knocking down a three of her own. As a team, LA was 12-19 from behind the arc, shooting an impressive 63%.
Los Angeles was up by 13 at the 5:46 mark.
What was once a 21-point lead kept shrinking for the Sparks as the Mercury put together a 14-3 scoring run. Rae Burrell drained a much-needed three for LA to stop some of the bleeding.
Hamby scored five in a row, helping keep Los Angeles’ lead in double-digits. The Mercury once again started rising, scoring five in a row themselves.
Alyssa Thomas and Kahleah Copper were both in double figures with 19 and 16, respectively. Jovana Nogic also gave Phoenix a huge boost with her 15 points and three 3-pointers.
Going into the fourth period, the Sparks were up by 12, after Hamby drained a 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded. She had scored the last 10 points for Los Angeles.
Hamby continued her dominant scoring, putting another two on the board to start the final frame. Plum scored her first points of the second half on a midrange jumper. Thomas and Natasha Mack combined for four points, trying to put the Mercury on their backs for a comeback.
At the 5:50 mark, the Sparks were up by 12.
Phoenix turned on its jets again to make it a single-digit game. The Mercury were shooting 45% in the quarter, while LA was shooting 36%. With 1:24 left, Hamby was fouled and converted on both free throws to make it a 12-point lead.
Copper was fouled and converted on both free throws, but with 25 seconds left, they had no hope for the comeback. The Sparks sealed the win with defense.
Key Player Stats
Hamby ended with 27 points, 15 rebounds and three assists. Plum finished with 16 points and seven assists. Nneka scored 12 points with six rebounds and two assists.
Brink pitched in with 12 points, five rebounds and three blocks. Atkins had 11 points with two assists and two steals. Rae Burrell logged 12 points off the bench.
The Sparks’ next game will be against the Las Vegas Aces on Saturday at 5:00 PM PT.
You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians.
