The Sparks keep their playoffs hopes alive after beating the Mystics 72-64

Los Angeles Sparks #25 Layshia Clarendon (G) trying to get past the Washington Mystics #11 Elena Delle Donne (F). Photo by Jerry Kelly

LOS ANGELES, CA - The Los Angeles Sparks (16-21) beat the Washington Mystics (17-20) in a must-win game at the Galen Center 72-64, knowing that a post-season playoff spot was on the line, with a one-game lead over the Chicago Sky.

Layshia Clarendon was out for two games delivered for the Sparks with 15 points, Jordin Canada with 14 points, Dearica Hamby with 12 points and ten rebounds, and off the bench Jasmine Thomas with 7 points and Zia Cooke with 5 points.

What was most impressive about the win for the Sparks, they did it without their all-star forward, Nneka Ogwumike, sitting out due to discomfort in her knee.

"It was a big win to finish out the home schedule of the regular season," Miller said. "When a star player is scratched as late as Nneka was scratched, I've watched teams not be mentally ready to handle the situation. And they just didn't miss a beat. All the adversity we've been through this year has prepared us for the fact that you have to pivot when someone goes down."

Washington Mystics #11 Elena Delle Donne (F) is being defended dribbling to the basket by the Los Angeles Sparks #23 Azura Stevens (C). Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.

The length of Azura Stevens and Hamby seemed to bother Elena Delle-Donne, shooting 4 of 14 from the floor, with 8 points, while Brittney Sykes was their leading scorer with 14 points, and Li-Meng and Myisha-Hines-Allen both finished with 11 points.

Layshia Clarendon's jump shot gave the Sparks a 4-2 lead in the first quarter. Li Meng's three-pointer gave the Mystics a 9-8. The Sparks would overtake the Mystics and lead 15-13 with a jump shot by Azura Stevens.

Karlie Samuelson gave a pass to Dearica Hamby for a layup to give the Sparks a four-point lead, 17-13, and the Mystics called a timeout.

Los Angeles Sparks #23 Azura Stevens (C) is being double-teamed by the Washington Mystics #3 Li Meng (F) and #11 Elena Delle Donne. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.

Washington took the lead 18-17 with a three-pointer by Kristi Toliver. Zia Cooke tied the game 18-18 by making two free throws.

Natasha Cloud's three-pointer had the Mystics leading 21-18. Toliver was dribbling upcourt, and her knee gave out as the Mystics led 21-19 at the end of the quarter.

The Sparks went up by six points in the second quarter, 27-21, with a three-pointer by Karlie Samuelson. The Mystics went on a 6-0 run to tie the game 27-27, with a layup by Myisha Hines-Allen, forcing the Sparks to call a timeout. Los Angeles regained the lead 29-27 with a basket by Hamby.

Myisha Hines-Allen's three-pointer gave the lead back to the Mystics 32-30 with 2:15 before halftime. The Sparks led at halftime 38-34.

 Los Angeles led by eight points in the third quarter, 42-34, with a layup by Hamby. Washington would trail 46-45 with a three-pointer by Li Meng. The Sparks went up 51 -45 with a three-point jump shot by Jasmine Thomas and a jump shot by Stevens.

The Mystics were within one point of Los Angeles 51-50 with a three-pointer by Meng, and the Sparks called timeout. The Mystics led at the end of the third quarter with a jump shot by Delle Donne.

Los Angeles Sparks #21 Jordin Canada (G) driving to the basket for a layup. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.

 The Sparks led 57-56 in the fourth quarter with a layup by Jordin Canada, and the Mystics called timeout. Samuelson drove to the basket and was fouled on her made layup, made her free throw, and the Sparks led 59-58 with 5:09 left in the game.

Los Angeles pushed their lead up to 63-58 after Clarendon was fouled on her made basket and knocked down her free throw.

Hines-Allen would drive to the basket for a layup, and the Mystics now trail 68-64 with 1:03 left in the game.

Canada's clutch free throws at the end helped secure the 72-64 win and put the Sparks at the No. 8 seed in the WNBA Playoffs standings with three games left in the regular season, the Connecticut Sun, New York Liberty, and the Seattle Storm.