End of Road for Losing Streak
The best thing the Sparks can say about their four-game road trip is that it’s over.
The next best thing about it came Tuesday when they ended their three-game losing streak by defeating the Detroit Shock, 98-89, in overtime before 5,380 at The Palace.
Lisa Leslie missed two free throws for the Sparks (10-3) with 26 seconds left in regulation with the score tied, 83-83. The Sparks then watched the final shot by Shock guard Edwina Brown (18 points) bounce off the rim three times before falling to the side.
The Sparks outscored Detroit in overtime, 15-6, to send the Shock (3-7) to its fourth consecutive loss.
“This definitely takes some of the sting off the road trip,” Leslie said. “It was a great win, a team effort, and luckily it went into overtime because I’d missed those free throws. But once it went into overtime I was fine.”
Leslie had 28 points and 11 rebounds, and got much-needed guard help. Tamecka Dixon, who struggled with her shooting on the trip (16 of 53, 30%), had 15 of her 19 points in the second half, mostly on drives.
Before fouling out, Dixon made a critical three-pointer with 3:27 to play in overtime and Detroit trailing, 87-86.
“I am struggling offensively a little bit,” Dixon said. “Tonight I tried to get myself going by driving to the basket, being more aggressive and creating more opportunities for myself and my teammates.
“And [making] that three-pointer felt like I got a monkey off my back because I couldn’t hit anything outside.”
The score was tied 15 times and there were 26 lead changes as the Sparks fought through the malaise that infected them since beginning the road trip in Houston last Wednesday.
“It’s nice to pull out a win after three losses,” Coach Michael Cooper said. “These were two teams struggling to put something together, and I’m just glad we were able to get this one. It goes back to defense, and I credit that tonight. I thought we did a good job at the guards and on through [the frontcourt].”
It wasn’t all good news for Cooper.
He found out before the game he had been fined $1,000 for critical remarks of league officials Friday in Cleveland.
“I never like to lose money, but all things considered, $1,000 isn’t bad,” Cooper said.
Even though the Sparks did not have the kind of success on the road trip they anticipated, the team still has the support of an important observer.
“I still feel we have the best players and the best team,” said Spark General Manager Penny Toler. “That has not changed. I know the losses can shake your confidence. But if we have to lose, I’d rather it be now than in the playoffs.”
Toler said she wasn’t seeking any deals or moves.
“We already played nine road games,” she said. “We just need to get home for a while, be in our building in front of our fans.”
A player Toler and Cooper will watch closely is guard Mawadi Mabika, who rested Tuesday because of knee tendinitis. Mabika may be available for Sunday’s game against the Miami Sol at Staples Center.
The Sparks’ Latasha Byears--who fouled out early in the second half--had 12 points and DeLisha Milton contributed 14.
In the other WNBA game:
Merlakia Jones scored 20 points, including a three-pointer with 56 seconds to play, as the Cleveland Rockers defeated the Portland Fire, 61-57, before 9,389 at Cleveland.