The Los Angeles Sparks battled fiercely in their overtime 98-93 win over the Las Vegas Aces. The Sparks went into the fourth quarter with a 10-point advantage. The Aces went on a 15-4 run, giving them the lead with 5:44 left in regulation.
A game-tying three-pointer by forward Stephanie Talbot forced the game into overtime. While Aces guard Jackie Young poured in nine of her 18 points in the extra phase, the Sparks made clutch shots to secure the victory.
A jumper by Sparks forward Stephanie Talbot tied the game at 84. The Sparks and the Aces now head into overtime pic.twitter.com/xfkjKjIVdc
— Amanda Scurlock (@Amandtastic) July 6, 2024
Sparks forward Dearica Hamby scored 28 points, 14 rebounds, and four assists. Guard Aari McDonald hit her career high of 23 points.
Aces forward A’ja Wilson scored 35 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks.
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“I think that we stayed together. Vegas had their runs and we expected that,” McDonald said. “We communicated and I think that we minimized their size but we were also executing and scoring.”
For the first half, Los Angeles only had one turnover. Sparks head coach Curt Miller noted how taking care of the ball allowed the Sparks to score more.
“We took 19 more shots than [the Aces],” Miller said. “We were able to overcome an average shooting night inside the ark tonight because we had so many more possessions than them.”
The Aces launched to a 7-0 start, the Sparks responded with a seven-point run within one regulated minute.
With eight three-pointers and just one turnover, the LA Sparks lead the Las Vegas Aces 46-36 at halftime
— Amanda Scurlock (@Amandtastic) July 6, 2024
The game remained close until forward Rickea Jackson and McDonald hit two three-pointers late in the second period. A three-point play by Hamby gave the Sparks a 10-point lead going into halftime.
Throughout o the game, McDonald use her speed and shifty style of play to score.
“We call some plays that are lower turnover plays that not always got us into scoring position but it kept us out of turnovers,” Miller said. “Aari McDonald went continually north-south, attacking.”
The Sparks had four players who scored in the double digits, including Jackson who contributed 14 points and six rebounds.
“Playing against [Wilson] and [forward Kia Stokes] I know that they are super tall so I had to pick and choose rebounds,” Jackson said. “That last rebound, I was just praying it came to me.”
The Sparks return home to battle the Phoenix Mercury on July 8 at 4:00P.M.
