Mercury Can’t Escape Sparks’ Clinch, 101-76
One old Trojan sought out another at the final horn, hoping to say bon voyage.
It was Cheryl Miller, the Phoenix Mercury coach, hobbling along on one crutch and seeking out the Sparks’ Lisa Leslie, who once played for Miller at USC.
The two rarely spoke to each other at USC after Miller controversially replaced Marianne Stanley as coach in 1993, but for a moment that was forgotten.
Finding Leslie, Miller hugged her briefly and whispered into her ear.
“She told me to win it all,” Leslie said later.
The Sparks looked perfectly capable of that Sunday afternoon, demolishing the Mercury, 101-76, and registering a 2-0 first-round playoff sweep before a vocal 9,811 at the Great Western Forum. Leslie had a season-high 29 points.
The Sparks get a day off today before preparing for the Western Conference finals opener at Houston or Sacramento Thursday.
Playing at home for the first time in 17 days, the Sparks were buoyed by an appreciative crowd that saluted their numerous fastbreaks with standing ovations, waving thousands of purple-and-white balloons.
The Sparks made believers of at least one opponent too.
“L.A. is playing some great basketball right now,” said Phoenix center Jennifer Gillom, who had 16 points.
“There was nothing we could do to stop them. We had a good effort--but what can you do? Our offense and defense were there. They’re playing good, tough basketball--if they continue playing like this, they will have a championship in their hands.
“You may play with them for a half, but to do it for two halves, that’s very hard.”
Miller, whose team was outscored, 59-40, in the second half after being within 42-36 at halftime, saluted the Sparks but wouldn’t hand over the championship--yet.
“They’re very talented, very deep, but we’re jumping over the hedge a bit when we try to anoint them [as champions]. It’s too early. It’s a slap in the face to Houston.”
Miller pointed to the Sparks’ depth when she talked about how her team wore down in the second half.
“We started running out of gas when they kept running in more athletes,” she said.
The Sparks not only bagged their first 100-point game of the season, they set a playoff record with 101. They also shot 55.7% Sunday, easily better than their regular-season average of 44%, but not their best of the season (60.7% in a July 20 win at New York).
And as was the case in Phoenix in Friday’s series opener, Los Angeles ruled the boards, 37-22.
The Sparks came out of the physical matchup relatively unscathed, although guard Tamecka Dixon (14 points and seven assists in 25 minutes) took a knee to her right thigh and hobbled off the court with 6:44 to play.
“I’ll be OK, but I’ll probably spend tomorrow in an ice bucket,” she said.
Dixon saw the first-round series the way many have--the Sparks have found a faster gear.
“We’re playing at another level now,” she said.
L.A. outscored Phoenix on fastbreak points, 24-3, most of those in the second half. But it was three defensive stops halfway through the second half that affirmed how Coach Michael Cooper wants this team to play.
With a 63-54 lead, the Sparks twice took Phoenix into single-digit seconds remaining on the shot clock, rebounding a Phoenix miss both times. They did it again on the next Mercury possession, but this time DeLisha Milton (11 points, five rebounds, four assists) got a steal.
Shortly after that, the Sparks pinned a 15-5 run on Phoenix for an 80-62 edge with 7:03 left.
The Sparks made nine of 16 three-point attempts, including four for six from Mwadi Mabika, who finished with 15 points.
SPARKS vs. PHOENIX
L.A. wins best-of-three series, 2-0
THE SERIES
Game 1
Sparks 86, Phoenix 71
Game 2
Sparks 101, Phoenix 76
*
UP NEXT
SPARKS vs. HOUSTON or SACRAMENTO
Game 1
at Houston or Sacramento
Thursday, 6 p.m.
Game 2
at Forum
Sunday, TBA
Game 3*
at Forum,
Aug. 21, 7 p.m.
* if necessary