After fighting and leading for most of the game, the Sparks faded in the fourth quarter and lost to the Sun, 79-67. The defeat guarantees the Sparks the top spot in the 2025 WNBA Draft lottery.
Rickea Jackson continued her impressive play in the second half, finishing the game with 23 points, four rebounds, and three steals. Dearica Hamby contributed 10 points and seven rebounds, while Odyssey Sims added 10 points as well.
Both teams had strong offensive starts, exchanging the lead multiple times. Jackson and Azurá Stevens were hot for Los Angeles, but the Sparks struggled to hold onto the ball. Despite some turnovers, a 3-pointer from Sims helped cut the deficit to one after the Sun took a four-point lead.
Connecticut managed to maintain their lead and ended the first quarter up by six. Yueru’s five points helped the Sparks narrow the gap to one by the end of the quarter.
Jackson took charge for Los Angeles in the second quarter, becoming the first Spark to reach double digits in scoring. The teams traded leads, with LA eventually going up by four. Despite Connecticut’s struggles with shooting, the Sparks couldn’t fully capitalize on their opportunities.
A three-pointer by Crystal Dangerfield extended Los Angeles’ lead to six. Both teams picked up their offensive pace, with Dangerfield scoring seven points in eight minutes.
The first half ended with a buzzer-beater 3-pointer by Kia Nurse, maintaining a six-point lead for the Sparks.
Connecticut started the second half by reducing the deficit to two. Both teams displayed sloppy ball handling, but a crucial basket from Jackson gave LA a four-point lead.
Turnovers and messy play dominated the game, but a 9-2 run by Los Angeles, with Jackson’s standout performance, gave the Sparks a 58-55 lead to end the third quarter.
Jackson continued her scoring streak to start the final quarter, but the Sun’s rebounding advantage kept them in the game. The score was tied with seven minutes left.
A spectacular move by Jackson put LA ahead by two, but a 3-pointer by Marina Mabrey put the Sparks behind. Despite some mistakes, LA’s defense kept them close.
A late surge by the Sun, including a crucial 3-pointer by Djonai Carrington, gave them a five-point lead. A 20-3 run in the fourth quarter sealed the comeback victory for Connecticut.
Key Takeaways:
The Sparks need to address their fourth-quarter struggles to finish the season on a positive note.
On a brighter side, the Sparks are in a good position for the Paige Bueckers sweepstakes.
The next game for the Sparks is against the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday at 7:00 PM PT.
Follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians for more updates.
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