Los Angeles Sparks lost a heartbreaking thriller against the Chicago Sky 76-75

Los Angeles Sparks #30 Nneka Ogwumike (F) going strong toward the basket against the Chicago Sky #25 Morgan Bertsch (G). Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.

 LOS ANGELES, CA - The Los Angeles Sparks (15-20) lost a heartbreaking thriller 76-75 to the Chicago Sky (15-21) to remain one game ahead of them in the eight-spot for the WNBA playoffs with five games remaining in the regular season.

Nneka Ogwumike led the Sparks in scoring with another double-double, 18 points, and 11 rebounds, Jordin Canada with 16 points and eight assists, and Azura Stevens, Dearica Hamby, and Zia Cooke all with 9 points.

It was a hard pill to swallow, especially having three chances to win at the end, and the Sparks head coach Curt Miller knows they let this one slip out of their hands, and talked about it in the video below.

Nneka Ogwumike's jump shot from the right side of the court gave the Sparks a 4-0 lead in the first quarter. The Sparks led 7-4 with a three-pointer by Jordan Canada. The Sky tied the game 9-9 with a three-pointer by Marina Mabrey.

Chicago called timeout after Canada knocked down another three-pointer to make the score 15-9 with 4:42 left in the quarter. Dana Evans' jump shot had the Sky trailing 24-18. Los Angeles led by ten points, 28-18, with a layup by Dearica Hamby, and 28-21 at the end of the first quarter.

Chicago trailed 28-24 in the second quarter with a three-pointer by Mabrey. Zia Cooke's jump shot at the top of the key had the Sparks up 32-24.

The Sparks went up by ten points again, 34-24, after a side-step layup by Dearica Hamby, forcing the Sky to call another timeout.

Chicago Sky #2 Kahleah Copper (F) pulling up for a jump shot. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.

The Sky cut into the Sparks' lead to 37-31 with a layup by Elizabeth Williams, forcing them to call time out. Kahleah Copper's jump shot made the score 37-33.

Jasmine Thomas's three-pointer from the right side of the court had the Sparks leading 40-33. Chicago went on a 10-3 run to tie the game 43-43 with a three-pointer by Copper at halftime.

Ogwumike led the Sparks in scoring, with 10 points, and Canada with 9 points. Mabrey led Chicago in scoring with 10 points.

The Sky led 45-43 in the third quarter with a layup by Copper. The Sparks would regain the lead 47-45 with a floater by Canada in the paint. Chicago tied the game 47-47 with a layup by Morgan Bertsch.

Los Angeles Sparks #23 Azura Stevens (C) three-point shot from the right side of the court is being contested by the Chicago Sky #1 Elizabeth Williams (C). Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.

Azura Stevens made a three-pointer before the shot clock buzzer went off and gave the Sparks a 55-50 lead with 4:13 left in the third quarter.

Chicago would go on a 9-0 run capped off with a three-pointer by Mabrey to lead 59-52. The three-pointer by Stevens earlier was reviewed, and the basket was no good. Evans' three-pointer gave the Sky a 64-56 lead at the end of the third quarter.

Elizabeth Williams' driving layup gave the Sky a 66-56 lead in the fourth quarter. Cooke's three-pointer at the top of the key had the Sparks behind 66-59.

Cooke would make another three-pointer and made the score 68-61, and the Sky called another timeout. Cooke would make two free throws, making the score 70-62 with 4:49 left in the game.`

Ogwumike, running down the court, got a pass from Canada for a layup and had the Sparks trailing 72-67 with 2:58 left in the game.

The Sparks were down 72-70 with a three-pointer by Karlie Samuelson at the top of the key. Mabrey would drive through the key and call for an offensive foul after knocking down Samuelson to give the ball back to the Sparks with 1:18 left in the game.

Canada would drive to the basket from the left side of the court and was fouled on her made layup, tying the game 72-72 after missing the free throw. Chicago would regain the lead 74-72 with a jump shot by Copper.

The Sparks took the lead back, 75-74, with a three-pointer by Samuelson with 38.1 seconds left in the game. Chicago would respond and regain the lead 76-75 with a jump shot by Copper.

The Sky would hold on and beat the Sparks 76-75 after missing three shots before the buzzer went off, ending the game and the Sparks dropping their last two games.

Copper was the leading scorer for the Sky with 22 points, Marina Mabrey with 14 points, and Morgan Bertsch with 12 points. In the video above, Ogwumike and Canada talked about their chances to win the game, but the shots just didn’t fall for them at the end of the game.