Sparks let it slip away, lose to Indiana, 82-76
Unfortunately for the Sparks, Lisa Leslie was wearing high heels and skinny jeans when she took center court during their game against the Indiana Fever.
The Sparks sure could have used the three-time league MVP in uniform.
Instead Leslie, whose No. 9 jersey was retired at halftime, watched helplessly as the Sparks lost, 82-76, at Staples Center in front of an announced crowd of 10,586.
After trailing, 40-38, at halftime, the Sparks (10-19) fell apart in the third and allowed the Fever (19-10) to lead by as many as 17 points.
“Besides the first five minutes of the third, it could’ve been a different game,” Sparks Coach Jennifer Gillom said.
The Sparks, who opened the fourth down, 66-56, went on a 16-8 run to reduce the deficit to 74-72 with 1:52 remaining. But the Fever regained control and held on.
The loss further distanced the Sparks from a playoff spot. They are currently in fifth place, a game behind fourth-place San Antonio and 11/2 games behind third-place Minnesota. The top four teams from each conference advance to the playoffs.
After splitting their four-game homestead, they now have to try to earn a playoff spot on the road. They play at Minnesota on Thursday in what DeLisha Milton-Jones calls a “must-win situation.”
“We just need to get a win — no matter how ugly it may be or how pretty it may be,” Milton-Jones said.
The Sparks were only playing with eight players. Candace Parker and Betty Lennox have been out since June with injuries, and point guard Ticha Penicheiro was also missing from the lineup due to a left knee strain.
In her absence, rookie Andrea Riley stepped up and scored 14 points, two shy of her career-high.
“I just wanted to bring energy and will my team to win,” Riley said.
Tina Thompson finished with a game-high 21 points and Milton-Jones added 16, but the Sparks struggled from the field and shot 36.1%, while the Fever shot 46%.
Leslie, who was nicknamed “Smooth” because of her silky shooting, received a standing ovation from a nostalgic crowd when she walked onto the court at halftime.
She grabbed the microphone and said, “I’m from the inner city here. I want all you boys and girls to know you can do it.… You can achieve anything.”
Well, almost anything.
“Hopefully my baby Lauren will pull it down,” Leslie said of her jersey. “She’s the only one who can wear my number.”
Sparks fans can dream.
