LOS ANGELES — The Sparks entered their final home game of the regular season against the Washington Mystics at Galen Center back in control of their own playoff destiny, after a Chicago Sky loss to the New York Liberty on Sunday afternoon.
However, a last-minute scratch of Nneka Ogwumike (19.1 points per game) from the team’s lineup due to a knee injury changed the team’s rotation against Washington. Dearica Hamby was inserted into the Sparks starting lineup, which meant the Sparks would play with four guards (Zia Cooke, Rae Burrell, Jasmine Thomas, and Evina Westbrook) as the only available reserves off the bench.
The Sparks (16-21) would not be deterred, pulling off a 72-64 win against Washington (17-20), who would have clinched a playoff appearance with a win. The win allowed the Sparks to reclaim sole possession of the league’s eighth and final playoff spot with three games left in the regular season.
Sparks guard Layshia Clarendon led the Sparks with 15 points, six rebounds and three assists. Hamby had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Canada added 14 points.
The Sparks led 38-34 at halftime. Clarendon, who returned after missing two games (Tuesday and Thursday) due to health and safety protocols, had eight points in the first half.
The Sparks began the second half on a 4-0 run, extending their lead to 42-34 on a layup by forward Dearica Hamby with 7:54 left in the third. Washington did not score their first two points of the second half until the 5:52 mark, when Tianna Hawkins’ layup cut the Sparks lead to 42-36.
Washington cut the Sparks’ lead to one, 51-50, on a three-pointer by guard Li Meng with 1:14 left in the third. Li had 11 points off the bench in the first three quarters. Two-time MVP Elena Delle Donne’s baseline jumper gave Washington their first lead of the second half, 52-51 with three seconds remaining in the third.
Jordin Canada’s layup gave the Sparks a 57-56 lead with 6:17 left in the fourth….
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