Jordin Canada scores a career-high 22 points, but Sparks fall to the Lynx 77-72
Los Angeles Sparks #21 Jordin Canada (G) driving thru the lane and going up for a layup. Photo by Daynesha Lewis/TGSportstv1.
LOS ANGELES, CA - Jordin Canada had a career-high 22 points, five assists, and one turnover as the Los Angeles Sparks fell to the Minnesota Lynx 77-72 for the second time this season
Dearica Hamby followed Canada in scoring with 14 points, but the other forwards, Nneka Ogwumike in early foul trouble, and Azura Stevens, each finished the game with 8 points.
The Sparks were without their best shooter Lexi Brown, Minnesota gambled on packing the paint, and it paid off in the second half.
Canada's three-pointer gave the Sparks a 5-2 lead in the first quarter. Minnesota led 9-8 after Dorka Juhasz knocked down a three-pointer.
Chiney Ogwumike returning to the lineup, scored a layup to give the Sparks a 16-14 lead. The Sparks led 19-18 at the end of the first quarter.
Minnesota Lynx #24 Napheesa Collier (F) going around a screen and going to the basket for a layup. Photo by Daynesha Lewis/TGSportstv1.
Azura Stevens' three-pointer gave the Sparks a 28-24 lead in the second quarter. The Sparks led 31-26 after Dearica Hamby was fouled on her put-back basket and made her free throw.
Canada going out of bounds for a loose ball passed the ball to Nneka Ogwumike, who passed the ball to Hamby for a layup giving the Sparks a 35-28 lead, and the Lynx called timeout.
Napheesa Collier would drive to the basket for a layup that had Minnesota trailing 35-30. The Sparks led at halftime, 43-34, with Hamby being the leading scorer with 11 points and Canada with 9 points.
Napheesa Collier led Minnesota in scoring with 12 points, and Nikolina Milic had 10 points.
Canada was able to split Minnesota’s defenders and get to the basket at ease as she talks about it in the video above.
Collier made a three-pointer in the third quarter, and the Lynx were down 43-37. Minnesota tied the game 48-48 with a three-pointer by Tiffany Mitchell. Nneka Ogwumike stole the ball from the Lynx and passed the ball to Canada for a layup to give the Sparks a 52-48 lead.
The Lynx led 53-52 with a three-pointer by Rachel Banham. Canada would pull up for a three-point shot to give the Sparks a 55-53 lead.
Minnesota would retake the lead 58-57 at the end of the third quarter with a three-pointer by Rachel Banham.
The Lynx led 63-57 in the fourth quarter with a basket by Dorka Juhasz forcing the Sparks to call a timeout. Canada shot a floater in the paint and had the Sparks down by one point, 69-68.
Nneka Ogwumike went up for a layup and had the Sparks down 74-72 with 49.9 seconds left in the game. The Lynx would beat the Sparks 77-72 to improve their record to 3-7. Collier would lead Minnesota in scoring with 25 points and McBride with 16 points.