A close contest on Tuesday night ended with the Mercury beating the Sparks 94-87.
Neither team could gain a significant edge over the other as this game featured 12 ties and 16 lead changes. In the fourth, the Mercury outscored the Sparks 26-20 to pull out the win.
This matchup was supposed to be Kelsey Plum’s first game against LA since being traded to Phoenix, but she was ruled out. The Sparks gave her a touching tribute before the contest, and she was given a hero’s welcome by the Sparks fans inside
the Galen Center.
Phoenix’s Noemie Brochant scored the first bucket of the game from behind the arc. Dearica Hamby got the Sparks on the board with a layup. It was Nneka Ogwumike though, who had the hot start for the Sparks, scoring seven points. Brochant was cooking, pushing her point total to 12 points.
She was the first player for either team to score in double figures.
At the 3:42 mark, LA was down by four. Cameron Brink once again provided a huge spark of energy for the team, scoring four points and blocking a shot. Los Angeles ended the quarter shooting 42% from the field.
At the end of the first, it was all tied up at 23.
Jihyun Park converted on a midrange jumper to start the second period for the Sparks. Tonie Morgan scored on a triple, which were the first points of her young career. LA was now up by five thanks to their great start.
Los Angeles had grown their lead to seven until Phoenix tied it.
Sami Whitcomb’s four points helped put the Mercury back into the game as it had seemed the Sparks had taken control. LA was winning the battle in the paint with 16 points to Phoenix’s 12.
At the 5:15 mark, Los Angeles was up two.
The Mercury took the lead after a few foul calls on the Sparks led to several free throws. Brochant picked up where she left off in the first by draining a 3-pointer. Nneka and Hamby combined for six points as the half was winding down.
Rae Burrell had a slow first, but ignited in this quarter, scoring four points to help LA up by three at halftime.
Burrell carried her excellent play early into the third period, scoring on a layup. Kahleah Copper proceeded to score four in a row for Phoenix. The Mercury took over the game by extending their run to 10-0. Hamby put an end to that with a layup.
Erica Wheeler knocked down a triple for Los Angeles.
Phoenix kept tying the game each time LA looked to build on a lead. Copper continued to shine in the quarter, pushing her point total to 15. Hamby was leading Los Angeles with 17 points.
At the 3:38 mark, it was a tied game.
Luckily for the Sparks, Alyssa Thomas was having a slow offensive showing with just seven points. The teams kept it close, taking turns with the lead and tying it.
Going into the fourth, Phoenix was up by one.
The final frame began with Burrell getting fouled and converting on both free throws. Copper responded with a layup on the other end. Burrell scored again on a layup, keeping Los Angeles in it. The teams continued their back-and-forth affair, exchanging the lead.
At the 6:46 mark, the purple and gold were up by two.
Burrell and Hamby were now tied with 19 points each for the Sparks. Burrell’s second-half takeover was carrying LA to what was looking like a potential win brewing. Brochant made it a one-point game with a triple. After a few baskets, it was once again a tied game with 3:33 left.
Los Angeles called a timeout, and out of the break, they turned the ball over.
Brochant put the Mercury up by three and pushed her point total to 24, a career high. The lead extended to five after a layup by Thomas. LA’s 16 turnovers were proving very costly for LA. With 1:32 left, Los Angeles had the ball with Nneka converting on a 3-pointer to make it a two-point deficit.
On the other end, Thomas scored on a layup, making it a two-possession game again with 49 seconds left. The Sparks turned the ball over again, but they were given one more opportunity to score with the Mercury turning the ball over again. Ariel Atkins missed a triple.
With 25 seconds left, Thomas basically sealed the win with a pair of free throws. Atkins did rectify her previously missed triple by draining one with 21 seconds left.
Key Player Stats:
Burrell finished with 19 points, six assists and three steals. Hamby ended with 19 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals. Nneka logged 18 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
Brink notched seven points with five rebounds and two blocks. Wheeler scored seven points and dished five dimes. Park had five points off the bench.
The Sparks’ next game will be against the New York Liberty on Thursday at 5:00 PM PT.
You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians.
