LOS ANGELES — The Sparks blew a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter in a 90-86 loss at home against the Chicago Sky on Saturday at Crypto.com Arena.
The Sparks were outscored by the Sky 26-12 in the fourth quarter to lose third third in a row.
Sparks had five players in double figures, indicative of a balanced scoring effort. Kia Nurse led the Sparks (6-20) with a team-high 16 points. Rookie forward Rickea Jackson and Stephanie Talbot each had 13 points. Crystal Dangerfield had 11 points and six assists and Azurá Stevens added 10 points. Sparks All-Star Dearica Hamby was limited to seven points on 2-of-8 shooting with nine rebounds and five assists.
“Our two point guards at the highest level don’t know our playbook and we’re competing as best as we can,” said Sparks coach Curt Miller in reference to Crystal Dangerfield and Odyssey Sims, who are both currently on 7-day hardship contracts.
“It is a pretty big playbook,” Dangerfield explained. “But he does a good job of doing play calls where it’s going to get us into successful positions for us personally and as a team.”
The Sparks led 74-64 heading into the fourth quarter. The Sky began the final quarter on a 7-0 run and cut the Sparks’ advantage to 74-71 with 8:29 remaining.
“Their physicality level definitely just went up and we weren’t able to match that,” Dangerfield said. “I think once we got a timeout we settled in and we were able to match that run, but once a team gets started like that in winning time, it’s hard to stop.”
Rickea Jackson and Crystal Dangerfield’s post game interview after the Sparks 90-86 loss at home against the Chicago Sky. The Sparks will play the second of a back-to-back at the Las Vegas Aces Sunday afternoon. Both talked about losing a 10-point lead in the 4th quarter. pic.twitter.com/nAiowTl3Me
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) August 18, 2024
I’m breaking down the Sparks 90-86 loss to the Sky. The Sparks had 5 players in double figures in the scoring column: Kia Nurse, Rickea Jackson, Steph Talbot, Crystal Dangerfield & Azura Stevens but could not overcome double doubles from Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese. pic.twitter.com/WW3716kKaA
See AlsoLos Alamitos Schedule - AQHALos Alamitos Picks - Racing DudesLos Alamitos Race CourseLos Alamitos Entries & Results for Sunday, 8-18-2024— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) August 18, 2024
The Sky took a 77-76 lead on a putback layup by rookie center Kamilla Cardoso with 6:35 to go.
Talbot later tied the game at 79 with a 3-pointer with 4:43 left. Sky All-Star rookie forward Angel Reese made 1 of 2 free throws to go back up 80-79. Baskets by former UCLA star Michaela Onyenwere, Lindsay Allen and Reese put the Sky up 88-82 with 1:02 to go.
“I think it goes back to we need to get stops to be able to at times play in transition,” Miller continued.
LA Sparks coach Curt Miller’s post game interview after blowing a 10-point lead in the 4th quarter of a 90-86 loss at home vs. Chicago Sky. Miller said both of his active point guards, Crystal Dangerfield & Odyssey Sims, don’t know the playbook. Both are on 7-day contracts. pic.twitter.com/9uvPzDXxAA
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) August 18, 2024
The Sparks cut the deficit to 89-86 and unsuccessfully tried to foul Reese. Instead, Rachel Banham went to the line and made 1 of 2. The Sparks trailed 90-86 with 10.3 to go. Burrell and Dangerfield each missed desperation 3-pointers before time expired.
Sparks coach Curt Miller wanted his team to control their energy and effort after studying Thursday’s 35-point blowout loss to the New York Liberty.
“Wins and losses take care of themselves,” Miller said before tipoff. “We aren’t making excuses. No one feels sorry for us, for the amount of people we have in street clothes every game. What we can do is play hard and if we get these 20,000 fans in attendance tonight excited about our effort and energy, we’re just going to continue to fill this building up as we continue to build and get back to where we all want to be.”
Dangerfield’s assist to Hamby gave the Sparks their first lead of the game at 20-18 with 2:50 left in the first quarter. Dangerfield started her first game with the Sparks and is currently signed to a third consecutive 7-day hardship contract.
The Sky led 26-25 at the end of the first. Both teams were shooting at least 50% from the field early and only had three combined turnovers in the first.
A 3-pointer by Dangerfield put the Sparks up 38-35 with 4:10 left in the second quarter. The Sparks, who shot 39% and made 16 of 41 attempts, including 6 of 15 from 3-point range in the first half, clung to a 46-42 lead at halftime. Nurse had 13 points in the first half.
Jackson followed up her signature turnaround jumper with a three-point play, going on a personal 5-0 run to extend the Sparks’ lead to 58-51 with 6:19 left in the third quarter. Reese capped a 6-0 run with a cutting layup to pull Chicago within 58-57 with 5:04 to go in the third.
The Sparks established a 10-point lead, 74-64, with 13.2 seconds left in the third on a fast-break layup by Talbot.
Allen led the Sky (11-15) with 16 points and six assists. Cardoso had a double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds. Banham had 14 points. Reese finished with a double-double with 14 points, on 4-of-13 shooting, and 11 rebounds.
Miller said Reese was a specific part of the Sparks’ scouting report.
“You have to match her motor and her energy,” Miller said, calling her an elite rebounder.
Cameron Brink (season-ending left knee injury), Lexie Brown (Crohn’s), Layshia Clarendon (mental health reasons) and Aari McDonald (right ankle) were all sidelined against the Sky.
Prior to Saturday’s tipoff, Sims, who averaged 17.2 points and 5.6 assists in nine games with the Dallas Wings this season, signed a 7-day hardship contract with the Sparks. Sims, who was drafted No. 2 overall in the 2014 draft out of Baylor, previously played for the Sparks in 2017 and 2018. The 11-year veteran finished with two points, three assists and two rebounds in 16 minutes off the bench.
“She brings a dynamic offensive presence to us at the point guard position,” Miller said when asked about Sims’ arrival. “A veteran that can run offenses but also someone that can help us with our defensive presence and what we would like to try to accomplish these last 15 games of the season.”
Saturday’s matchup also marked the return of former guard Chennedy Carter, who was acquired by the Sparks via trade for a 2023 first-round pick in February 2022. Carter was waived in March 2023.
“No. She’s very professional,” Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon said pregame. “This is the way of the world, it’s not the way of basketball, it’s the way of the world. It’s how you handle those situations and how it has helped you to grow and how you deal with things, it is what it is. But no we don’t have to have that conversation. She’s very professional, everyone of them are. You understand what professional life brings.Lessons are learned.”
Carter, who finished with nine points and five rebounds off the bench, received a technical foul after disputing a call with 2:15 left before halftime.
“Me and Chennedy are great teammates,” Reese added. “We love each other. I think our relationship is so strong because a lot of people have viewpoints on us and misunderstand us and I think that’s something that’s special about our relationship. I love Chennedy so much. I love playing with her. One of the best guards in the league. She deserves to be here.”
UP NEXT
The Sparks will return to action in Las Vegas against Aces (16-9) at 3 p.m. Sunday. The game will be televised on NBA TV.
“Just have to have a quick, forgetful memory,” Jackson said. “Just have to move on to the next and just keep pushing honestly. It’s honestly hard. People don’t speak about it, but losing and then going to play one of the best teams in the league is something that’s hard, but I feel like we’re up for the challenge and we’re going to continue to work on the things we need to work on.”
Angel Reese on being a black woman in the WNBA, her mental health, playing in Los Angeles for the first time in her professional guard and her great relationship with former Sparks guard Chennedy Carter. pic.twitter.com/BHQCrZfiID
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) August 17, 2024
Chicago Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon said Chennedy Carter will play against the Sparks. Weatherspoon also spoke about what she’s learned in her first season in Chicago and how she’s supporting Chennedy Carter in her first game back in Los Angeles since 2022. pic.twitter.com/juW6FDKhb1
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) August 17, 2024
LA Sparks head coach Curt Miller on signing Odyssey Sims to a 7-day hardship contract, Angel Reese’s tremendous season and how he wants to see the Sparks play after Thursday’s 35-point loss at home to New York Liberty. pic.twitter.com/63bNLuTHaq
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) August 17, 2024
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