The season is not going by any...
The season is not going by any script the Sparks would have written. They would have been happy for opponents to cower and crumble at the sight of the WNBA champions, submitting to any result Los Angeles wanted to post that day.
Instead, through the first eight games at least, the Sparks have had to battle through inspired opponents and their own lapses. But they are finding ways to win.
The latest case study was Saturday’s 72-66 overtime victory against the Sacramento Monarchs before 11,658 at Arco Arena.
When it was over, Los Angeles (7-1) had won its sixth consecutive regular-season game against Sacramento (1-5).
But the story is what transpired before overtime.
The Sparks endured one of their worst first halves in team history, making only nine of 31 shots (29%) and missing all seven three-point attempts. They had 10 turnovers against only two assists.
Coach Michael Cooper didn’t think his team was capable of being that hideous.
“I’ve never seen that by them,” Cooper said. “But it goes back to that saying that our team is not made up of one player and champions find a way to win. And that’s truly what we did: We found a way to win this game.”
Despite Sacramento’s efforts to put Los Angeles away--the Monarchs led, 51-39, with 6:14 to play and 57-48 with 3:10 remaining--the Sparks rallied and tied the score at 57 on Tamecka Dixon’s three-point basket with 31 seconds left.
Mwadi Mabika (a game-high 19 points) and DeLisha Milton (17 off the bench) took it from there. They combined for the Sparks’ first 10 points in overtime, and Los Angeles was in possession of 67-59 lead at the 2:38 mark. Sacramento, which had 17 points from Ruthie Bolton and 12 points from Kedra Holland-Corn, never recovered.
“Sometimes you gotta win them ugly to appreciate the good ones,” Cooper said.
Milton saw enough in the first half to last the season.
“I couldn’t even tell you the last time we were that bad,” Milton said. “But the thing I’m most proud of is how we responded from it. Two years ago we would have folded.”
Mabika and Milton are examples of the embarrassment of riches the Sparks have on a roster that can go 10 players deep in any game.
With the Monarchs double- and triple-teaming Lisa Leslie, it was going to take another Los Angeles player to be a difference-maker.
Mabika is becoming that player. Although she was only one of nine from the field in the first half, she was six of eight after intermission, including two three-point baskets in overtime.
“I really happy I stayed in Los Angeles during the off-season and worked on my game,” Mabika said. “I’m healthy, strong and feel I can do anything out there.”
Milton made eight of 12 shots.
“Coming off the bench, she gets an opportunity to see the flow of the game and how the refs are calling it,” Cooper said. “She’s not going to remain [a reserve] the whole season. But we tried the same thing for a while last year and it worked, so we’re trying the same thing now.”
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In other WNBA games:
Houston 51, Minnesota 50--The Comets (6-3) kept alive their perfect record against the Lynx (4-4), using a 17-2 first-half run to win before 8,774 at Houston. The Comets are 11-0 against Minnesota since the Lynx joined the league for the 1999 season.
Miami 69, Orlando 65--Sheri Sam and Betty Lennox combined for 32 points as the Sol outlasted the Miracle before 7,215 at Orlando, Fla.
The victory was the second in a row for Miami (2-5) after starting the season with five consecutive losses. Orlando (3-3) lost for the second game in a row.
Cleveland 79, Indiana 68--Merlakia Jones had career-highs of 27 points and 11 field goals as the Rockers (2-4) defeated the Fever before 7,697 at Indianapolis.
Tamika Catchings led Indiana (4-4) with 23 points but scored only six in the second half. Nikki McCray had 14 for Indiana; Olympia Scott-Richardson scored 12.
Utah 61, Seattle 54--Margo Dydek had 14 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks to lead the Starzz (5-3) to victory over the Storm (4-4) before 5,852 at Salt Lake City.
Starzz guard Jennifer Azzi kept rookie Sue Bird in check for the first half, holding her to two points, but Bird finished with 19 points.
Portland 67, Detroit 60--DeMya Walker had 11 points and a career-high 10 rebounds as the Fire sent the Shock to its WNBA-record ninth consecutive loss to open the season before 6,995 at Portland, Ore. Alisa Burras scored 14 points for the Fire (3-5).
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.