Sparks snap eight-game skid with another upset win over Aces in overtime

LOS ANGELES -- As mentioned in the game preview, that's why they play the games.

The Sparks held a 15-point lead in the second half before the Aces roared back to take the lead in the fourth quarter. Still, the Sparks were able to send it to overtime and then, staying composed, defeated the Aces in the extra period, 98-93.

Composure was the name of the game for the Sparks after blowing a 14-point lead against the Mystics on Tuesday. 

"As they made their run in the fourth quarter and, in times, those are the games that would slip away, they were better tonight," Miller said. "We were much more composed in the huddles. I talked about it in pregame. I was much more composed in huddles. I got a technical with two minutes to go in a close game but I did have better composure with them in timeouts. And that starts from the top. When they saw myself more composed in timeouts, naturally, they're more composed. So really proud of them."

Keeping their composure got them this clutch bucket from Stephanie Talbot that sent the game to overtime.

"Steph is so underrated," guard Aari McDonald said, who had a career-high 23 points. "She's been playing her butt off since entering the starting line-up. She's been the glue that we need keeping us together. Staying composed and just doing the little things that doesn't show up on the stat sheet. She had some really big assists tonight and I'm just proud of her."

More proof in terms of composure? The Sparks only had three turnovers. Coach Miller talked about keeping those turnovers down and it exceeded expectations.

"People that have followed us know our Achilles' heel this year is turnovers," Miller said. "We keep addressing it and we found some flow tonight. Played a 45-minute game with three turnovers, one at halftime. Just really proud of them that way."

Before the game, Rickea Jackson mentioned that they knew what it took to beat the Aces. So what did it take?

"Staying together, low turnovers, executing, and knocking down open shots," Jackson said, who had 14 points tonight. "I just thought we played with a lot of grit tonight."

With such few turnovers, it gave the Sparks 19 more field goal attempts than the Aces. They didn't shoot as well as the Aces did; Sparks shot .372 while the Aces shot .478 but the volume of shots can overwhelm a team.

Composure is withstanding a 13-2 run from the Aces and then trading baskets with the defending champions until it went to overtime. And in overtime, the Sparks showed more composure by surviving a Jackie Young barrage in overtime and getting the big baskets from Talbot, McDonald, Layshia Clarendon, and Dearica Hamby. Hamby's three-point play put the Sparks up by five points late in the game and that pretty much sealed the deal.

The Sparks led at halftime, 46-36, and grew the lead to 53-38. In an interesting move, the Aces subbed out their entire starting line-up. After the Aces bench scored five straight points, all the starters came back after that wake-up call. It was nearly enough for the Aces but the Sparks held them off and both streaks are over. The Aces (12-7) had their six-game win streak stopped while the Sparks (5-15) halted their eight-game losing skid.

Dearica Hamby led the Sparks with 28 points and 14 rebounds, her 13th double-double of the season. McDonald, as mentioned, had a career-high 23 points. Rickea Jackson scored 12 of her 14 points in the first half. Talbot was huge with 13 points and nine assists. As for the Aces, A'ja Wilson was unbelievable with 35 points and 12 boards. Kelsey Plum scored 21 points while Jackie Young had 18. Young scored all nine Aces points in overtime.

The league doesn't stop as the Sparks attempt to start a winning streak as they face the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday afternoon.

If they can keep their composure, they might win a second straight game.