The Sparks shot out like a can of biscuit batter on Friday night at Crypto Arena with back to back triples to start the game on a 6-0 run that eventually rose like a sweet pastry, taking a 21-2 advantage early in the game as Kelsey Plum sweetened it more with her 27 points, adding a cherry on top of the team’s first win this season over Toronto Tempo, 99-95.
Rae Burrell got into a groove early for her team and Los Angeles for the first time in the regular season got off to a great start on a 10-0 run before Tempo scored their first points. Sparks would respond immediately and follow-up with a 11-0 run before finally Toronto was able to turn down the heat in Sparks home kitchen.
“I think we’re all very versatile and three-level scorers,” Starting Sparks forward Dearica Hamby said. “You’ve got to pick your poison. We all want to win, we’re there for each other, we’re giving each other feedback, and we’re looking for one another. We just want to continue building on that [momentum].”
While the Sparks were building up leads in the game, Plum was taking down every Tempo defender with an opportunity to play more off the ball as Erica Wheeler subbed into the starting lineup for Ariel Atkins who was out due to a concussion protocol. Wheeler seized her moment with a couple of buckets that benefitted Plum to play some one-on-one without much help defense.
“The first game that we played we [weren’t] moving the ball as much, so I took that on my back and made sure that happened,” Wheeler said. “It looked really good. It felt good as a collective.”
Sparks entered halftime up by eight, 46-38 after leading by double digits, most of the first half. Sparks had three starters already in double figures led by Nneka Ogwumike’s 15 points and six rebounds. Tempo were able to keep close in the game after such a dismal start despite Brittany Sykes scoring 10 points and collecting four steals.
Los Angeles resumed the second half still cooking with a 9-0 run led by Plum to extend their lead up to a season high 20 points.The Sparks shot a little over 70 percent from the field and over 60 percent from deep range. Plum and Sykes would get into a little head-to-head battle as both players seem to find their flow.
“Our starters played more than I had hoped, but you’ve got to do what you have to do…” Coach Lynne Roberts said to FI360 News during the postgame presser. “The coaching in this league is good, and I’m sure that Toronto will have their adjustments; we’ll have our adjustments. We need to see where we felt was giving us trouble defensively, see what we can fix, and go from there.”
Plum kept shaking and baking in the fourth though as a team the Sparks appeared to lose some of their intensity on the defensive end before laying the icing over the cake. Toronto made a late game run but could not contain Plum who scored a quarter high 15 points.
“Toronto gained some confidence. They’re gonna come in here on Sunday and try to beat us, it’s not going to be easy. So I’m grateful for the win, but I know Sunday is going to be just as hard, if not harder,” coach Roberts said to FI360 News.
In less than 48 hours, the Sparks (1-2) and Tempo (1-2) return to Crypto Arena early Sunday evening to battle after another short turnaround for Los Angeles this week. It will also be a day of celebration for AAPI heritage.