Behind a red-hot shooting performance from Kelsey Plum, the Sparks picked up their best win of the season, knocking off the reigning champions, 101-95.
Plum was unstoppable on the night, scoring 36 points, including a number of huge baskets down the stretch. Throughout the night, the two sides traded baskets, a trend that carried all the way to the final minute.
All five starters reached double figures for the Sparks, including Cam Brink, who started in place of Nneka Ogwumike.
LA started hot offensively,
shooting 66% from the field. Four of five starters scored early.
A’ja Wilson was cooking from the jump, scoring the Aces’ first six points. Kelsey Plum was leading Los Angeles with six points, all of which came from behind the arc. Ariel Atkins was close behind with four points.
At the 4:55 mark, the Sparks were up by three.
Chennedy Cater was subbed in and scored an easy five points for Las Vegas. Both teams traded triples, with Plum knocking down her fourth of the quarter. She was a perfect 5-5 from the field.
LA was shooting 66% from behind the arc and Las Vegas was shooting 40%. The teams traded triples again with Carter and Plum shooting the lights out. Los Angeles was up by two at the end of the first despite eight turnovers.
Carter started the second period with another 3-pointer. Las Vegas continued their hot shooting with three players combining for seven points. The Aces went up by four, forcing LA to call a timeout.
Out of the break, Cameron Brink scored on a layup. Brink also scored on a 3-pointer that helped put Los Angeles in the lead.
Dearica Hamby converted on a layup to reach six points in the half. Erica Wheeler was the only Spark in the starting five who had yet to score.
The Sparks were now up by three.
LA was having a rough time defending NaLyssa Smith, who was sent to the line three times. Las Vegas gained control of the game with a 12-3 run to lead by six at halftime.
Plum started the offense for Los Angeles in the third period with a layup. She had been held scoreless in the second quarter after having had 14 in the first. Las Vegas had gone up by nine, but the Sparks responded with a 10-0 run to grab the lead by one.
Plum was leading the Sparks with 21 points.
Wheeler scored her first points of the night on a layup. That marked all five starters scoring for LA. Smith stopped some of the bleeding for the Aces by converting on a three-point play.
After having been held scoreless since the first, Wilson started heating up, scoring 11 points. At the end of the third, the purple and gold were down by one.
Plum converted on a three-point play to start the final frame. Los Angeles went on a 10-0 run to open the period, forcing the Aces to call a timeout. Out of the break, Smith grabbed an offensive rebound that led to a layup.
Brink unfortunately fouled out with 7:36 left, prematurely ending her best game of the season.
With 5:59 left, the Sparks were nursing a four-point lead. Smith was fouled and converted on the three-point play to make it a one-point game. Burrell responded with a triple on the other end.
The teams exchanged shots, including two triples, one from Plum and one from Wilson. With 3:40 left, LA was holding onto a two-point lead.
Chelsea Gray tied the game with a jumper. Atkins responded on the other end with a layup to put Los Angeles back in the lead.
It was an intense, back-and-forth battle between the teams. The game was tied once again after Wilson converted on free throws with 1:36 left.
Wheeler knocked down a massive clutch 3-pointer with just over a minute remaining. The Sparks challenged an offensive foul call on Dearica Hamby with 39 seconds left, leading to a pair of freebies instead of the veteran big fouling out.
Hamby then fouled out on the ensuing defensive possession, sending Carter to the line where she split the free throws.
With 19.4 seconds left, Plum was fouled and converted on both free throws to make it a six-point lead. Plum then stole the ball with 10 seconds left, sealing the win.
Key Player Stats
Plum finished with 38 points on 12-17 shooting, including 6-7 from three, to go along with nine assists. Brink pitched in 16 points and eight rebounds. Hamby logged 16 points with five rebounds and four assists.
Atkins ended with 11 points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal. Burrell scored 10 points off the bench. Wheeler had 10 points with seven rebounds, six assists and two steals.
The Sparks’ next game will be against the Washington Mystics on Friday at 4:30 PM PT.
You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians.
