My game story from last night’s match up, which includes photos by Eric Wade and myself.
The stats are worth thinking about:
Forty-three fouls, Sparks outrebounding the Mercury 46-37. LA’s bench outscored Phoenix’s, 21-10. Yet the Sparks lose.
The Mercury seemed to have the mental edge. They came into Staples and stood up to the Sparks. Pushed them around at times (see photo with story).
LA has elevated their play a lot since I wrote this piece. If there’s anything at all left that they could still work on, it might be getting more mean on the floor. Because sometimes you have to go there to win.