LOS ANGELES — Despite coach Curt Miller’s warning, the Sparks seemingly came out flat energy-wise, struggled offensively and quickly trailed by double digits in the first quarter. They fought back, pulling within five points in the second quarter but the comeback was not sustainable. It was too little too late.
The Sparks trailed by 25 points in the third quarter and suffered an 82-67 loss to the short-handed Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena.
Sparks All-Star forward Dearica Hamby had a game-high 18 points and eight rebounds in 37 minutes. Hamby was the only Spark who scored in double figures.
The Sparks (5-17) have lost 10 of their last 11 games, including falling to 0-3 against the Lynx (16-6) this season. The Sparks, who had 20 turnovers and never led in the game, will close the 40-game regular season in Minnesota on Sept. 19.
Bridget Carleton scored 16 points and Dorka Juhasz added 15 for Minnesota, which played without injured MVP candidate Napheesa Collier, the team’s leading scorer (20 ppg) and rebounder (10.2 ppg). Minnesota (16-6) has won its past seven games at Crypto.com Arena and 13 of the last 14 meetings with the Sparks overall.
“Our margin is small and so you can’t be worrying about effort and energy in games when we need to spend our time more on schemes in what we’re going to do offensively and defensively,” Miller said before the game.
However, the Sparks did not heed Miller’s message early and trailed 29-16 at the end of the first. Minnesota took control early by making 11 of its first 16 shots, with points from nine players, while the Sparks shot 3 for 12 from the field.
The Sparks fared better in the second quarter. Hamby’s 3-pointer pulled her team within 37-32, but the Lynx responded with a 10-1 run to open a 47-33 advantage late in the first half, highlighted by back-to-back 3-pointers by All-Star guard Kayla McBride and Team Canada Olympian Carleton.
Carleton finished the night 4 for 4 from 3-point range as the Lynx shot 9 for 18 from behind the arc, while the Sparks went 3 for 20.
The Sparks trailed 51-35 at halftime and 70-51 at the end of the third quarter.
Second-year forward Juhász started in place of Collier (left foot) and had 11 of her 15 points in the first half. McBride and Lynx reserve guard Cecilia Zandalasini each had 11 points.
For the first time this season, the Sparks starting lineup included center Azurá Stevens, who replaced the injured Stephanie Talbot (right foot), one of three players now sidelined including Cameron Brink (ACL) and Lexie Brown (Chron’s disease). Stevens finished with nine points, six rebounds, four assists and two blocked shots in a season-high 28 minutes.
Miller, who is 0-7 against the Lynx during his two seasons leading the Sparks, knew attacking Minnesota’s defense would take more than energy and effort.
“Minnesota, analytically, is off the charts defensive,” Miller said. “They are not easy to play against. They are the number one team in my opinion right now in congesting the paint.”
Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve knew she would need to count on her defense to beat the Sparks.
“Like every road game we play, understanding that our defense is what gets us through the most difficult times of a home team’s runs, so try to limit the big runs because we’ll be locked in defensively. That is always our mindset,” Reeve said before the game.
Related Articles
Sparks coach Curt Miller seeks intensity against Lynx
Rickea Jackson’s career-high not enough, Sparks fall to Mercury
Sparks look to maintain confidence against Mercury
Sparks outlast Aces in OT, snap 8-game losing streak
Sparks look to avoid franchise-worst 9-game skid
PROUD MOMENT
Reeve, a four-time WNBA champion (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017), explained how good it feels to witness the league’s growth.
“This season has been record-setting and I’ve been in the league a long time since 2001,” she said. “We’ve gone from not being really welcomed in our own practice facility to being celebrated and the attendance. We’ve just seen a lot in 20-plus years so I’m thankful that I’m still here, that we’ve evolved just how we conduct our business. That we are treating it more like our male counterparts in terms of men’s sports, investing and we’re learning that when you do that, there’s a return on that investment just like there was for men. Just being here to see that, that’s really exciting for me and that’s not lost on me. Every once in a while I look around and I go I’m glad I’m still doing this at this time because it’s been a journey and this team gives me joy.”
UP NEXT
The Sparks will have Wednesday and Thursday off before practicing again on Friday ahead of Saturday’s road game against the Dallas Wings.