Minnesota Goes Down Swinging 96-90 Loss Against The Sparks

Story by L.T.Willis

The Los Angeles Sparks' #3 Candace Parker and The
Minnesota Lynx's #23 Maya Moore  kept the fans at
The Staple Center on the edge of their seats. Photo
By Eric Wade/T.G. Sports

The Los Angeles Sparks are now (11-6) after beating the Minnesota Lynx (13-3) 96-90 yesterday afternoon at the Staple Center. However there are some serious issues the Sparks must fix if they are going to contend for the WNBA Championship. The Sparks had as much as a 20 point lead to see it collapse and watch Minnesota fight and claw back into the game and go down swinging. So Many times the Sparks would have big leads then give it right back and games they should win easily, now becomes a dog fight.

The Los Angeles Sparks' #20 Kristi "Popcorn" Toliver is
becoming a superstar in the WNBA. Photo by Eric Wade/
T.G.Sports.

After losing 3 games on the road the energy from the Sparks were high as Candace Parker and Kristi Toliver were sending the Lynx a message that their team will have too be recon with as the Sparks were hitting  from long range and had a 8 point lead 19-11 with 3:20 left in the first quarter. The Lynx's Seimone Augustus was having her way in the first quarter as she scored 8 points to help keep Minnesota close. Candace Parker was having a MVP game early with a double- double in the makings  with 11 points and 6 rebounds, and Kristi Toliver 11 points both combine for 9-11 from the floor to give the Sparks a 24-21 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Minnesota Lynx's # 23 Maya Moore. Photo
by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports

Maya Moore continues to show why she one of the top players in the WNBA when her team was trailing by nine points  early in the second quarter 34-25, she came in for Monica Wright and the Lynx began their run. Lindsay Whalen hit a 3 pointer to cut the lead to 34-28, but the Sparks' April Sykes hit a jump shot from 18 feet to push the lead back up to 36-28. With 5:40 left in the second quarter Maya Moore hit a 3 pointer and now the Lynx trailed 36-31 and Seimone Augustus hit a three pointer too cut the lead to 36-34 and the Sparks called a time out. The Sparks regain their composer and push their lead to 49-43 at the the end of the first half.

The Sparks' #3 Candace Parker leading
a fast break against Minnesota. Photo
by Eric Wade/T.G. Sports

The Sparks' #0 Alana Beard scored 10
points and 5 assist. Photo by Eric Wade/
T.G.Sports.

Now in the third quarter if you would have told me that The Los Angeles Sparks would have a 18 point lead over the WNBA defending champs at the 2:23 mark 70-52, i would have ask what have you been drinking. The truth of the matter it was the way the Sparks did it with great defense, Minnesota shot 6 for17 from the floor a terrible 35.3% and 2 for 6 from the free throw line 33.3%. The Sparks shot 8 for14 from the floor 57.1% and a made 8 of 12 of their free throws for 66.7%. Candace Parker had 22 points and 11 rebounds and Kristi Toliver had 23 points and 6 assist while Minnesota's Seimone Augustus had 18 points, Rebekkah Brunson 11 points 9 rebounds and Maya Moore had only 8 points.

Minnesota Lynx #23 Maya Moore, #33 Seimone Augustus
wasn't going too just lay down trailing by eighteen points
75-57 at the end of the third quarter. Photo by Eric Wade/
T.G.Sports.

Well in the back of the mind of many Sparks fans including me could not believe the score that the Sparks were just having their way with the defending WNBA champions The Minnesota Lynx and walked away with a blow out implanted on their minds.The fourth quarter proved too be what champions are made of and what teams must do too become champions as Minnesota went on a run of their on too cut the Sparks lead to nine points with 3:23 left in the game 84-75 and the Sparks had no choice but too call a time out.  Minutes later Maya Moore hit a 3 pointer and now the lead is six points 84-76 with 2:10 left in the game.

Sparks' #3 Candace Parker was just too much for
Minnesota to handle as she scored 28 points and
13 rebounds. Photo by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.

Minnesota had storm back being down twenty points and their defense clamped down on the Sparks' offense who shot 3 for13 from the floor 23.1% with about 27 seconds left in the game had just only a 5 point lead 90-85. What save the Sparks was their great free throw shooting with Candace Parker, Kristi Toliver and Alana Beard shot 14 for 14 100.% that sealed the game with a victory over Minnesota 96-90. Even though Minnesota shoting in the fourth quarter was 12 for26 for 46.2% and 6 for 8 from the free throw line ,the Sparks could learn a very important lesson from this game.

Sparks' #20 Kristi Toliver scored 29 points, 6 assist
and only 2 turnover in the game against Minnesota
Photo by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.

For the Sparks to become champions they must play smart basketball all four quarters, manage the game better by not allowing teams to get back in the game, must develop a killer instinct and learn from a champion that no matter how bad things get never give up. The good thing about this game the Sparks came closer too understand what they must figure out as a team, how to become champions. The pieces are there if the players grasp the challenge. Minnesota Lynx's Seimone Augustus finish with 18 points, Maya Moore 14 points, Rebekkah Brunson 11 points 9 rebounds, Amber Harris and Candice Wiggins both finish with 10 points. The Sparks' Kristi "Popcorn" Toliver  lead her team with 29 points 6 assist, Candace Parker 28 points 13 rebounds, Nneka Ogwumike 12 points 7 rebounds and Alana Beard 10 points and 4 assist. All photos are by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports and EW Gems Images.