Sparks’ rally falls just short in loss to Phoenix
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PHOENIX — Satou Sabally scored 25 points, Alyssa Thomas had 19 and the Phoenix Mercury held off the Sparks 89-86 on Wednesday night.
Two free throws from Kelsey Plum had the Sparks, who trailed by 14 early in the fourth quarter, within one at 78-77 with 2 1/2 minutes to play in a game of long runs, but Thomas scored the next six Phoenix points.
Plum kept pace, scoring the last 11 points of the game for the Sparks. That included the 500th three-pointer of her career and then a shot with four seconds left. On that tightly contested desperation shot from the left wing, her foot was on the line, so the Mercury led 87-86.
A second later Sabally made two free throws and Plum’s half-court heave wasn’t close.
Azurá Stevens finishes with 21 points, but Rickea Jackson sustains an injury as the Sparks fade in the second half of an 89-75 loss to the Minnesota Lynx.
Monique Akoa Makani scored 11 points for the Mercury (2-0), who turned 17 Sparks turnovers — eight by Plum, who played all 40 minutes — into 23 points.
Plum had 25 points for the Sparks (1-2) and Azura Stevens had 23 with 17 rebounds. Dearica Hamby scored 15.
Twice early in the fourth quarter the lead was 14 ,but Hamby scored seven straight points and the Mercury cut it to 78-75 on a layup by Odyssey Sims with three minutes to play.
Up next
Both teams play Friday night. Phoenix is at Seattle, and the Sparks host Golden State.
