LOS ANGELES -- This was probably not the way the Sparks wanted to finish their home slate.
The Sparks were up, 44-36, at halftime. But Rickea Jackson and Brittney Griner were ejected after a scuffle. The Mercury seemed to take advantage of Jackson's absence as they outscored the Sparks in the third, 28-10. Phoenix would go on to win in Los Angeles, 85-81.
Brittney Griner and Rickea Jackson 👀👀 pic.twitter.com/YxUdsNEKYE
— Tyler DeLuca (@TylerDeLuca) September 18, 2024
Coach Curt Miller talked about the ill-fated third quarter for the Sparks.
Coach Miller talked about what happened in that third quarter. The Mercury outscored them, 28-10. @SportingTrib @FredoCervantes pic.twitter.com/xmE9QIGxVG
— 𝐑𝐞𝐲-𝐑𝐞𝐲 (@TheNoLookPass) September 18, 2024
"I thought to Phoenix's credit, they really made it ugly, right?" Miller said. "They played a lot of zone. They scrambled around and pressed without (Griner). I thought we were on our heels immediately in the third quarter. Got a little tentative against the zone. I didn't think that first unit shared the ball particularly well. I thought it was sticking and we needed to move it.
"That snowball effect where our lack of offense maybe affected our defense at times. And that third quarter got away from us."
Li Yueru had career-highs of 19 points and 12 rebounds as she achieved her first double-double in the WNBA.
Li Yueru on her career-highs of 19 points and 12 rebounds tonight and her growth this season and the future. @SportingTrib @FredoCervantes pic.twitter.com/mn3Rfo8qF7
— 𝐑𝐞𝐲-𝐑𝐞𝐲 (@TheNoLookPass) September 18, 2024
"I'm really appreciative of my coach, all the staff, and all my teammates," Li said, "They try to help me every game and every practice. So I feel really... (grown) up!"
Dearica Hamby led the Sparks with 21 points and 9 rebounds. The Sparks actually killed the Mercury on the boards, 49-25. Los Angeles always emphasized more shots on goal; they had 19 more shots than Phoenix. But the 18 turnovers were what really doomed the Sparks.
"The turnovers hurt us with them having 31 points off of our turnovers," Miller pointed out.
The Mercury only had 10 turnovers. The Sparks only scored eight points off those giveaways.
On the Mercury (19-20) side of things, five players finished with double digits. Brittney Griner, despite being ejected, still tied for the lead in scoring for Phoenix; she had 14 along with Sophie Cunningham. Diana Taurasi, who may have played her last game in Los Angeles, scored 13 points while Natasha Cloud finished with a double-double with 13 points and 12 assists.
Not the home closer the Sparks wanted, especially with that Jackson ejection. The Sparks (7-32) have now lost eight straight, which ties a franchise record.
They will close the season out in Minneapolis, where they take on the Lynx.