Monarchs Defeat Sparks
The post-Michael Cooper era began in earnest for the Sparks on Saturday. So did the uncertainty of playing without DeLisha Milton-Jones, who is scheduled to undergo surgery next week on her injured right knee.
What hasn’t changed yet is how close to the edge the Sparks have played at home this season, with five of the games decided by four points or fewer and three going into overtime.
On Saturday, it caught up with them as the Sparks (14-7) could not hold off hustling, determined Sacramento and lost, 79-70, in front of a sellout crowd of 13,836 at Staples Center.
The loss ended the Sparks’ six-game winning streak and was their first home loss of the season. It also cut their lead over Seattle in the Western Conference to a half-game.
Yolanda Griffith scored 10 of her 15 points in the second half and had seven rebounds for the Monarchs (9-11).
Ticha Penicheiro, normally a reluctant shooter, had a season-high 13 points, including a critical 15-footer with less than a minute to play and the shot clock running out.
Lisa Leslie led the Sparks with 22 points and 12 rebounds but had only two points in the second half.
Among the spectators Saturday was former Laker assistant coach Kurt Rambis, who was jotting down notes. He was also seen chatting with Spark General Manager Penny Toler at halftime. Impromptu job interview?
When asked, Toler replied, with a smile, “All the Lakers are an option.”
Co-coaches Karleen Thompson and Ryan Weisenberg could have used a better opening on their quest to remain in charge of the team.
But the Sparks, who led 43-38 at the half, said afterward they didn’t do enough to earn the win. Not when they had 19 turnovers, were outrebounded 32-29, had the ball stolen from them 12 times and made only 10 of 22 shots in the second half for 27 points.
“We didn’t have the same intensity to begin the second half as we did early,” said Tamecka Dixon, who had 11 points. “When they came out and made an early run it became an uphill battle.
“Maybe it’s good we lost at home tonight. If we’re going to have mental lapses at home, who’s to say we can’t be beat. Maybe now we’ll get that intensity we need to continue the season.”
The week off after last Saturday’s game in Houston seemed to revitalize the Sparks, especially Leslie. The Spark center, who had a season-low four points in the June 3 loss to Sacramento, was in the flow of the game immediately, scoring both inside and outside with little difficulty. She finished the half with 20 points and eight rebounds.
She wasn’t a solo act. Dixon was hot from the outside early, making four of her first five shots from the field.
Tamika Whitmore, who took Milton-Jones’ place in the starting lineup, made her presence felt on the inside. She finished with 11 points and six rebounds.
Despite the spring in their step, the Sparks couldn’t run away completely from the Monarchs. The Sparks built a couple of nine-point leads, but the Monarchs kept busy on the boards (16-14), made four three-point baskets to none by the Sparks, and forced seven Spark turnovers to keep it close in the first half.