Sparks salvage overtime win
The Sparks returned to Staples Center, better known lately as The House That Couldn’t Hold a Big Lead, and did their best to put a stop to the tough luck that has haunted the home teams in the last week.
They got it half right, anyway.
The Sparks squandered another double-digit lead Friday night against the Connecticut Sun, same as they did in their home opener a week earlier, and similar to the Lakers’ collapse the night before in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, but the Sparks regrouped in overtime and won, 98-93.
The victory, coupled with Seattle’s loss to San Antonio, gave Los Angeles (6-2) sole possession of first place in the Western Conference.
Sparks shooting guard Sidney Spencer, who has seen her minutes drop significantly the last two games, despite coming in eight for 10 on three-point shots this season, made the key basket in overtime, making a three-pointer with 1:20 remaining to give Los Angeles the lead for good, 94-93.
“I thought it was a little short,” Spencer said of her final shot. “Usually, when it’s short, that’s good because it makes me fall forward and that seems to help me.”
Kiesha Brown, starting at point guard in place of Temeka Johnson for the second consecutive game, later forced a turnover by Connecticut guard Lindsay Whalen along the sideline and then made four free throws in the final 18.9 seconds to seal the victory.
“Just go out and be the quarterback for the team, that’s what we needed and that’s what I’m trying to deliver,” Brown said.
For the second consecutive game, all five starters also scored in double figures for Los Angeles. Lisa Leslie finished with a team-high 22 points and 10 rebounds, her fourth straight double-double and sixth in eight games. DeLisha Milton-Jones produced 20 points and eight rebounds, Marie Ferdinand-Harris had a season-high 19 points, rookie Candace Parker had 17 points and nine rebounds and Brown finished with 10 points, 11 assists, seven rebounds and only one turnover in 38 minutes.
“Everything is like a learning experience for me still,” Brown said.
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