Poor third quarter dooms Sparks again

LOS ANGELES -- The Sparks had it right in their hands. But as it has been all year, one quarter has undone everything.

This time around, it's the third quarter that reared its ugly head. The Sparks led, 50-37, going into halftime. Then they only managed to score nine points in that all-important period. The Mercury would pull ahead in the fourth with consecutive three-pointers by Satou Sabally and Monique Akoa Makani and take the win, 85-80.

It looked like rainbows and unicorns (probably not the best word to use when the Sparks were just going against one) in the first half. The ball movement was crisp in those first 20 minutes; they had 16 assists. But in the second half, they felt like a hundred people stuck in an elevator. Los Angeles only had ten cents in that second half (meaning they only had one dime = one assist). It was a tough go for Coach Lynne Roberts and company.

"This game came down to us not shooting great," Coach Roberts said. "We had eight threes in the first half, we finished with eight. You look into field goals, they made the same amount of field goals we did, they just hit four more threes. That's where we lost the game. I thought we got some good looks from people that I always think are gonna hit it and we just didn't make shots tonight. A lot of times when you're in a drought like that then you put pressure on yourself that the next one has to go in and the rim kind of gets smaller and smaller. And I think that's what you saw."

They did have a change in the starting line-up. The Sparks started Julie Allemand instead of rookie Sarah Ashlee Barker. As mentioned, it started out well. 

"(Julie Allemand) coming back. Anytime that you're out and you come back, it's hard to try to figure out your rhythm, and I think that every game she's gotten better and better," Kelsey Plum said. "She plays with great pace, that's something for us. She makes quick decisions, she's moving, she's finding people. (Odyssey Sims) and I can play off the ball, [and] Julie can play on the ball."

Odyssey Sims had a huge game with 32 points and carried the offense for the Sparks.

"It's been phenomenal… (Odyssey Sims has) been incredible," Plum said. "She’s one of the fiercest competitors in the league, plays both sides of the ball, extremely physical, and very strong. She knocks people off their spot, even players that are bigger. I thought she did a great job tonight. (She’s) always one of those people that you go into war with and you want her on your team."

“I just played basketball. It’s a little bit more aggressive. I think the rim was kind of big for me today," Sims said of her performance. "It just stayed in that mode. I just wanted to keep my foot on their necks. We still have work to do. The good thing is it’s early but still work to be done. We’re just gonna try to be better every game.”

The Sparks led, 48-30, near the end of the first half. They did get a little sloppy after that and that might have given the Mercury some momentum. Sabally also got called for a technical foul after the second quarter buzzer sounded. That probably fired up the Mercury even more. After Plum made the technical free throw to start the third, the Mercury scored 10 in a row. Phoenix won the quarter, 24-9. 

Coach Roberts mentioned they were missing shots. They missed a lot of shots. Los Angeles went 6 for 30 (.200) in the second half. The free throw line kept them alive (18 for 21 in the second half).

As mentioned, Sims scored a season-high 32 points. Dearica Hamby and Kelsey Plum each scored 15 points but the latter went 4 for 19 (.211) in the game. As for the Mercury, Sabally had 24 points and nine boards while Kathryn Westbeld and Kitija Laksa each had 15.

The Sparks are now 2-6 but they get a much-needed break as they don't play again until Friday when they face the Wings in Dallas. Los Angeles is also now 0-1 in the Commissioner's Cup.