Sparks’ Streak Hits 14
The Sparks have done everything to prove they are the WNBA’s best team. On Thursday they added another layer to their aura.
Even when they’re bad, they’re good.
They were Outplayed by a scrappy and inspired Sacramento team, yet increased their winning streak to 14 in a row with a 67-62 victory before 8,554 at Staples Center.
The victory raised the Sparks’ record to a league-best 23-3. Their lead in the Western Conference over Houston is 6 1/2 games; the Sparks have six games remaining and the Comets have seven.
They also remained unbeaten at Staples (12-0) and have won their last 18 at home, dating to last season at the Great Western Forum, which is a league record.
“One of the things we’re trying to fight was being complacent,” Coach Michael Cooper said. “Sacramento is an excellent team and we might see them again down the road. They came here tonight committed to playing a full 40 minutes.
“That’s why I’m very happy with this win tonight. I think it showed we have arrived. We’re showing that we’re a mentally tough team. It’s going to be hard for teams to beat us, unless they have a good lead on us.”
Sacramento, in third place in the West, dropped to 15-11. If the Monarchs slip to fourth, they would play the Sparks in the first round of the playoffs.
Sacramento, which is 0-3 against the Sparks, forced 17 turnovers Thursday and held the Sparks to 44.4% shooting. Forward Tangela Smith had 12 first-half points, then guard Edna Campbell got going, making five of six three-point shots and scoring all of her team-high 21 points in the second half.
“It took us a while to come up to their level of intensity,” Cooper said.
Spark center Lisa Leslie had a quiet first half with only seven points.
“For some reason I came here tonight not ready to play,” Leslie said. “I just felt like I didn’t want to play. It was strange because I love to play. But I think it also had a domino effect on us early; the team could tell I wasn’t ready to play.”
Leslie broke through her wall of indifference, helping the Sparks overcome a 46-36 deficit with 16 second-half points and seven of her nine rebounds.
“I learned something about myself,” Leslie said. “I learned about digging deep into yourself and finding the effort necessary.”
DeLisha Milton dug deep as well. After making only two of 15 shots in her last two games, Milton was an efficient six of nine for 14 points.
Mwadi Mabika did not have her shot going, making three of 13 for six points, but she had two key plays against Campbell.
With 1:12 left and Los Angeles clinging to a 63-62 lead, Mabika stripped Campbell of the ball near the baseline. Sacramento got the ball back, but frittered away most of the 30-second shot clock. When Campbell tried to bank in a five-footer, Mabika blocked it.
Sacramento, with one second left on the shot clock, took the ball out of bounds but was unable to launch a shot before the clock expired.