LOS ANGELES — The LA Sparks survived a relentless comeback attempt by the Toronto Tempo on Friday night, holding on for a 99-95 victory to move to 1-2 on the season. It was not clean, and it was not comfortable, but the Sparks found a way.
Kelsey Plum led all scorers with 27 points, doing her best work in the fourth quarter when the Tempo threatened to rip the game away. She capped the victory with two free throws in the final seconds, finishing the night with nine assists as well. Nneka Ogwumike added 20 points and Erica Wheeler chipped in 10 points on seven assists, providing the engine in the fourth that finally put Toronto away.
The Sparks trailed 17-28 after a first quarter that saw Toronto jump out fast, but LA’s Dearica Hamby was a force on the interior from the opening tip, finishing the first period with 10 points. The Tempo’s lead reached double digits multiple times through the first half, but LA chipped away. Rosie Burrell heated up in the second quarter with 13 points, and a Plum three-pointer just before halftime pushed the lead to eight heading into the break, 46-38.
LA extended its advantage in the third, at one point pushing ahead 74-50 as Plum distributed the ball with precision, finishing the period with nine assists. But Toronto refused to fold. Brittney Sykes, who finished with 27 points, seven assists, and four steals, led a charge in the fourth that cut the Sparks’ lead to three at 89-92 with under two and a half minutes to play.
Laura Juskaite was equally dangerous for the Tempo down the stretch, finishing with 16 points, four steals, and a 7-foot fadeaway with just under three minutes remaining that kept Toronto in it. The Tempo even picked up a bonus possession when Rae Burrell drew a technical foul late, but the Sparks converted their own free throws on the other end and never let Toronto tie it.
Cameron Brink sealed the win at the line, hitting both free throws with nine seconds left to push the lead to 99-92. Sykes hit three final free throws in the dying seconds to make the final margin look tighter than the game felt at the end.
Nyara Sabally was a force on the boards all night for Toronto, collecting five offensive rebounds, two blocks, and 14 points. Dearica Hamby anchored LA’s interior on the other end, finishing with 19 points before fouling out late in the fourth, leaving the Sparks without their most reliable post presence down the stretch.
The Sparks continue their homestand with another game this weekend against the Tempo.
KEY PERFORMANCES
LA Sparks: Kelsey Plum 27 PTS, 9 AST | Nneka Ogwumike 20 PTS | Dearica Hamby 19 PTS | Erica Wheeler 10 PTS, 7 AST | Rae Burrell 13 PTS | Cameron Brink 10 PTS |
Toronto Tempo: Brittney Sykes 27 PTS, 7 AST, 4 STL | Laura Juskaite 16 PTS, 4 STL | Nyara
Sabally 14 PTS, 5 OREB, 2 BLK | Kiki Rice 11 PTS