Teasley Looks Like Real Deal
The deal is looking like a steal.
It may have been an exhibition game, and the Phoenix Mercury did not have all its regulars available Saturday, but the debut of Nikki Teasley, the Sparks’ touted rookie guard, was the biggest highlight of their 78-69 victory before 3,557 at the Pyramid in Long Beach.
Teasley, the fifth pick in this year’s draft and traded to the Sparks by Portland for Ukari Figgs, had 15 points and three assists in 22 minutes. Lisa Leslie also had 15 points, and Mwadi Mabika and Tamecka Dixon each scored 11 for Los Angeles.
Phoenix got 14 points each from Shea Mahoney and Adriana Moses.
“I was a little nervous early in the day but not when I got here,” Teasley said after the Sparks’ exhibition opener. “It’s basketball on a higher level, but I felt familiar with everything. I know we can perform better as a team, and we will.”
Teasley provided some early excitement with half-court passes that DeLisha Milton and Mabika converted into layups. She also made two three-point shots and scored 12 points in 12 first-half minutes as the Sparks took a 40-38 lead.
Teasley’s third three-pointer, with 18:05 left in the second half, triggered a 14-2 run that put the Sparks in control, 57-42.
After that, Coach Michael Cooper began substituting, looking at different combinations. Every Spark player in uniform got into the game. Cooper may start reducing the 17-player roster Monday.
“A win is a win, but we see how far we have to go,” Cooper said. “We practice harder than we played tonight.
“It will be difficult making cuts because we believe any player we let go will be picked up by another team and become a crucial part of that team. So we have to make the right choices.”
When Teasley’s name was brought up, Cooper smiled.
“She is everything we expected her to be,” he said. “She’s going to be a special player. She’s just going to get better and better.”
The Sparks will play exhibitions next weekend in Detroit and Orlando, then open the regular season at home against New York on May 25.