The Sparks gained a essential sport Sunday, defeating the Washington Mystics 81-78 to maintain their slim playoff hopes alive heading into the ultimate two weeks of the common season.
Washington hit a trio of three-pointers within the last minute, however Dearica Hamby‘s jumper in the paint and Kelsey Plum‘s two free throws in the final 20 seconds were enough to seal a Sparks win.
Hamby led the Sparks with 20 points and 12 rebounds, recording her 11th double-double of the season. Plum added 18 points, four rebounds and seven assists. Rickea Jackson contributed 16 points and Azurá Stevens had 12 rebounds.
“Dearica was just a beast on the boards and finishing in traffic with those and-ones,” Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said. “She’s simply so robust and athletic.”
It was a essential win for a ninth-place Sparks staff that’s two video games behind the Indiana Fever for the ultimate playoff spot with six video games remaining.
The Sparks (18-20) most likely might want to win all of their remaining video games to have an opportunity on the postseason. And their last slate isn’t simple. It consists of back-to-back highway exams towards Atlanta this week and video games towards Phoenix and Las Vegas to shut the common season.
In addition they want the Fever (21-19), Valkyries (21-18) and Seattle Storm (22-19) to lose. Golden State, which beat Indiana on Sunday evening to maneuver forward of Seattle and into sixth, additionally owns the playoff tiebreaker after successful the season sequence towards the Sparks.
A win over Seattle on Monday evening would assist the Sparks’ trigger.
Earlier than Sunday’s win, Roberts needed to see higher pacing from her staff. She obtained that, together with higher shot execution. Sadly, 13 turnovers allowed the Mystics to remain on the Sparks’ heels many of the sport.
The Sparks got here out robust within the first quarter, constructing a double-digit lead of 13 factors.
Washington (16-25) responded within the second quarter and tied the sport 24-24. Plum then cut up a pair of free throws to place the Sparks forward they usually pulled away to take a 40-31 lead by halftime.
The Sparks continued to remain forward within the third quarter, however six factors from Kiki Iriafen coupled with a Stefanie Dolson three-pointer gave Washington a 56-55 lead with 8:21 left. The Sparks retook the lead earlier than a Sonia Citron three-pointer tied the rating at 61-61 with 5:35 remaining.
Hamby then made a few free throws and scored on a two-foot layup to place the Sparks forward for good.
Iriafen completed with 22 factors and 13 rebounds, securing her fifteenth double-double of the season. Shakira Austin added 11 factors and 7 rebounds. Citron chipped in 12 factors.
With some a lot at stake in days forward, Stevens is aware of the Sparks can’t afford to lose their focus.
“We know the circumstances, but all we can control is the next possession,” Stevens stated. “Just taking it day by day and really focusing on us, our defense, our rebounding, our pace on offense.”
Roberts additionally wish to see extra from her gamers Monday evening towards Seattle.
“We’ve got to be better at putting teams away and not making it a close game, but we took care of business [tonight],” Roberts stated.
