The Sparks hold on to beat Aces in overtime 98-93
Los Angeles Sparks #2 Rickea Jackson (F) being defended by Las Vegas Aces #20 Kate Martin (G). Photo by Jevone Moore/BNS.
LOS ANGELES, CA - The Los Angeles Sparks, despite their record being (4-12) before the matchup against the Aces for the second time at the Crypto.com Arena, came away with a gutsy 98-93 win in overtime.
The Sparks have lost games due to the high numbers of turnovers during games, but on Friday Night, that was not the case, committing only three turnovers against the Aces.
All-Star Dearica Hamby continues to shine for the Sparks every game and led the Sparks in scoring with 28 points and 14 rebounds, Aari McDonald with 23 points, Rickea Jackson with 14 points, and Stephanie Talbot with 13 points.
A'ja Wilson, with five personal fouls, scored 35 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Aces in scoring, Kelsey Plum with 21 points, and Jackie Young with 18 points.
Las Vegas jumped out on Los Angeles 7-0 with a layup by A'ja Wilson to start the quarter, forcing the Sparks to call a time-out. The Sparks would go on a 7-0 run capped off with a layup by Hamby to tie the game 7-7.
The Sparks would take their first lead 19-9 with a three-pointer from Rickea Jackson. The Aces would lead 24-21 to end the quarter with a three-pointer by Kelsey Plum.
Los Angeles would lead 32-31 in the second quarter with a three-pointer by McDonald. The Sparks went up by ten points at halftime, 46-36 after Hamby made two free throws.
Los Angeles was up 52-38 in the third quarter with a three-point jump shot by Stephanie Talbot. Las Vegas started clamping down on defense and went on a 13-5 run, now trailed 59-51 with a layup by Wilson. The Aces would trail 70-60 at the end of the third quarter.
Las Vegas took the lead in the fourth quarter, 75-74, with a three-pointer by Young. The Sparks would tie the game 81-81 with a jump shot by Hamby. With 15 seconds left in the game, the Aces would lead 84-82 with a layup by Wilson.
Talbot gave the Sparks new life as she nailed a jump shot inside the key to send the game into overtime 84-84.
Talbot, in overtime with a driving layup, gave the Sparks an 88-86 lead with 3:35 left in the extra period. Young would give the Aces a 90-88 lead after she pulled up for a jump shot.
With 1:14 left in the extra period, Layshia Clarendon went up for a jump shot, and the Sparks now led 92-90. The Aces would trail by two points, 95-93 with her three-point jump shot with 20 seconds left in the game.
The Sparks would go on a 6-3 run, capped off with a layup and one by Hamby, two free throws by McDonald, and a free throw by Clarendon to help secure their second win over Las Vegas 98-93 at the Crypto.com Arena.