Thursday, August 1, 2019 – The Los Angeles Sparks in action against the Las Vegas Aces at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Maria Noble)
Los Angeles – Behind a fourth quarter surge and balanced play, the Los Angeles Sparks ran past the Las Vegas Aces Thursday, 76-68.
Nneka Ogwumike led Los Angeles with 19 points, while Candace Parker – back after sitting out five games with an ankle injury – scored 16 points. Chelsea Gray also notched 16 points and had 10 assists.
The Sparks started quickly and lead by seven points at the end of the first period. But the Aces began the second on a 12-2 run, and outscored their opponents by nine going into the break. They continued their onslaught in the third quarter, running up their lead to eight points before three-pointers from Ogwumike and Sydney Wiese cut the lead. Los Angeles was able to pull away in the final 2:30, sealed by a Gray bucket.
Kayla McBride led Las Vegas with 19 points, and Dearica Hamby scored 11 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
The Sparks have won five of their last six games despite missing Parker and reserve players Maria Vadeeva and Alexis Jones, both of whom also returned to action in the game. Veteran guard Alana Beard has been out with a hamstring injury, and Chiney Ogwumike sat Thursday with a jaw injury.
The loss drops the Aces to third place, with Los Angeles close behind in fourth.
Sparks coach Derek Fisher credited his bench for stepping up in crunch time.
“We need people to be able to come in and contribute, and I think they answered,” he said.
Las Vegas coach Bill Laimbeer said his team needs to close out games better.
“I want to see less turnovers. I want to see shots going in,” he said. “We got good looks, we didn’t make it. We need to be more concentrated and we need to make big shots in big games and haven’t done that.”
Thursday, August 1, 2019 – The Los Angeles Sparks in action against the Las Vegas Aces at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Maria Noble)
Thursday, August 1, 2019 – The Los Angeles Sparks in action against the Las Vegas Aces at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Maria Noble)
Thursday, August 1, 2019 – The Los Angeles Sparks in action against the Las Vegas Aces at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Maria Noble)
Thursday, August 1, 2019 – The Los Angeles Sparks in action against the Las Vegas Aces at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Maria Noble)
Thursday, August 1, 2019 – The Los Angeles Sparks in action against the Las Vegas Aces at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Maria Noble)
Thursday, August 1, 2019 – The Los Angeles Sparks in action against the Las Vegas Aces at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Maria Noble)
Thursday, August 1, 2019 – The Los Angeles Sparks in action against the Las Vegas Aces at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Maria Noble)
Thursday, August 1, 2019 – The Los Angeles Sparks in action against the Las Vegas Aces at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Maria Noble)
Thursday, August 1, 2019 – The Los Angeles Sparks in action against the Las Vegas Aces at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Maria Noble)
Thursday, August 1, 2019 – The Los Angeles Sparks in action against the Las Vegas Aces at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Maria Noble)
Thursday, August 1, 2019 – The Los Angeles Sparks in action against the Las Vegas Aces at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Maria Noble)
Thursday, August 1, 2019 – The Los Angeles Sparks in action against the Las Vegas Aces at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Maria Noble)
Thursday, August 1, 2019 – The Los Angeles Sparks in action against the Las Vegas Aces at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Maria Noble)
Thursday, August 1, 2019 – The Los Angeles Sparks in action against the Las Vegas Aces at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Maria Noble)
Thursday, August 1, 2019 – The Los Angeles Sparks in action against the Las Vegas Aces at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Maria Noble)
Thursday, August 1, 2019 – The Los Angeles Sparks in action against the Las Vegas Aces at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Maria Noble)
Thursday, August 1, 2019 – The Los Angeles Sparks in action against the Las Vegas Aces at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Maria Noble)
Thursday, August 1, 2019 – The Los Angeles Sparks in action against the Las Vegas Aces at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Maria Noble)
Thursday, August 1, 2019 – The Los Angeles Sparks in action against the Las Vegas Aces at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Maria Noble)
Thursday, August 1, 2019 – The Los Angeles Sparks in action against the Las Vegas Aces at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Maria Noble)
Thursday, August 1, 2019 – The Los Angeles Sparks in action against the Las Vegas Aces at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Maria Noble)
Thursday, August 1, 2019 – The Los Angeles Sparks in action against the Las Vegas Aces at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Maria Noble)
Thursday, August 1, 2019 – The Los Angeles Sparks in action against the Las Vegas Aces at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Maria Noble)
Thursday, August 1, 2019 – The Los Angeles Sparks in action against the Las Vegas Aces at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Maria Noble)
Thursday, August 1, 2019 – The Los Angeles Sparks in action against the Las Vegas Aces at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Maria Noble)
Thursday, August 1, 2019 – The Los Angeles Sparks in action against the Las Vegas Aces at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Maria Noble)
Thursday, August 1, 2019 – The Los Angeles Sparks in action against the Las Vegas Aces at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Maria Noble)
Thursday, August 1, 2019 – The Los Angeles Sparks in action against the Las Vegas Aces at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Maria Noble)
Thursday, August 1, 2019 – The Los Angeles Sparks in action against the Las Vegas Aces at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Maria Noble)
Thursday, August 1, 2019 – The Los Angeles Sparks in action against the Las Vegas Aces at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Maria Noble)
Thursday, August 1, 2019 – The Los Angeles Sparks in action against the Las Vegas Aces at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Maria Noble)
Thursday, August 1, 2019 – The Los Angeles Sparks in action against the Las Vegas Aces at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Maria Noble)
Thursday, August 1, 2019 – The Los Angeles Sparks in action against the Las Vegas Aces at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Maria Noble)
Thursday, August 1, 2019 – The Los Angeles Sparks in action against the Las Vegas Aces at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Maria Noble)
Thursday, August 1, 2019 – The Los Angeles Sparks in action against the Las Vegas Aces at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. (Maria Noble)
