The Indiana Fever arrived in Los Angeles draped in momentum: 5 straight wins, a knack for successful with out Caitlin Clark and betting traces titling their method. Their tear was proof they may maintain tempo even with their franchise centerpiece in road garments.
However one other storyline would possibly’ve been tucked beneath Indiana’s.
The Sparks had ripped off seven wins of their final eight outings, most likely fueled by the uncommon luxurious of getting every bit of their roster again for the primary time in additional than a yr. And by evening’s finish at Crypto.com Enviornment, they’d received eight of 9, the Sparks grinding out a 100-91 victory.
“Tonight was a great step in the right direction,” guard Kelsey Plum stated. “That’s an incredible team, and they’re as hot as anyone. … They got everything it takes to make a run for a championship. So for us to come out and have that level of intensity, I was really proud.”
Sidelined since July 15 with a proper groin damage, Clark by no means touched the hardwood Tuesday. However her presence was inconceivable to overlook.
About an hour earlier than tip‑off, Clark entered the world to a wave of shrieks. Followers crammed shoulder‑to‑shoulder in opposition to the banisters and barricades, stretching jerseys, bobbleheads and posters towards her for autographs. However as soon as the ball went up, Clark left her imprint not in ink however as an assistant coach to her Fever squad.
For all of Clark’s hearth from the bench, the Sparks (13-15) seized on her absence to wrestle management away from one of many league’s hottest groups and transfer nearer to a playoff berth.
“We’ve got enough pieces and talents to make a playoff run,” Sparks coach Lynne Roberts stated. “We just got to keep our foot on the gas. As I always say, we didn’t come into the season saying we wanted to beat Indiana at home. We came in the season saying we want to make the playoffs.”
Roberts, who has spent a lot of the season juggling lineups amid accidents and roster turnover, can lastly exhale, with a wholesome beginning 5, Cameron Brink again in uniform and a bench able to contribute.
With secure rotations got here regular outcomes. Plum set the evening’s tempo, piling up 25 factors and 11 assists. Round her, the Sparks’ scoring core — Rickea Jackson matching with 25, Dearica Hamby dropping 16 and Azurá Stevens racking up 19 — stored the scoreboard buzzing. Julie Allemand steered the offense in sync, doling out seven assists to go along with 5 factors and eight rebounds.
All of us on this room know she [Plum] can go for 40,” Roberts stated, “but she wants to win more than go for 30. And if going for 40 is what it takes to win, then she’ll do it. But tonight, she gained so much attention from the other team’s scouting report — as she should — but she’s … trying to win.”
Halfway by way of the primary quarter, Brink checked in, snagged a few boards, and promptly stuffed a shot by 6‑foot‑2 Natasha Howard for the primary of 5 rejections on the evening.
“We’re just getting that chemistry on and off the court,” Jackson stated. “But when we’re playing like that and feeding off each other’s energy, that’s fine, and that’s when we’re going on our runs, and that’s when we’re not flinching because we trust each other that much.”
After Rae Burrell spun in an acrobatic layup to place the Sparks forward 32‑30, they by no means loosened their grip, stretching the result in 90‑68 halfway by way of the third quarter. However Aari McDonald and Kelsey Mitchell sparked a 21‑5 run that, abruptly, had the sport uncomfortably tight with below two minutes remaining.
A intercourse toy landed close to Indiana’s Sophie Cunningham after it was thrown from the stands.
The incident occurred with 2:05 left within the second quarter, with the thing touchdown within the lane close to Cunningham, who had been vocal on social media admonishing followers for throwing intercourse toys on the court docket throughout different video games. The Fever ahead jumped again in shock after which Plum kicked it into the stands.
“I think its ridiculous, it’s dumb, it’s stupid,” Roberts stated. “It’s also dangerous and players’ safety is number one. Respecting the game. All those things. I think it’s really stupid.”
Plum added that she thought each groups did an incredible job “playing on, don’t give it any attention. The refs too, I really appreciate them too, was just like hey let’s go.”
Cunningham walked over to the Sparks bench and was laughing about it.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
