Los Angeles, CA – Rickea Jackson fought hard Tuesday night through a tough game, helping her team on their home floor in Crypto Arena compete for nearly three quarters before taking an awkward stumble and Los Angeles Sparks fell to Phoenix Mercury 92-84 behind All-star point forward Alyssa Thomas’ record breaking single season seventh triple double.
“It was physical and I think those are probably really hard games to officiate,” coach Lynne Roberts said. “Playoffs are coming, and people are like, ‘we’re scrapping for our lives’, and they’re playing hard. We’re all playing for something and the intensity’s up.”
Thomas raised her Mercury teammates up with dishing 31 assists in their last two games while breaking her own record set in 2023 with her 18th career triple-double, scoring 12 points, snatching 16 rebounds and sharing the ball for 15 assists.
Thomas’ teammate Kahleah Copper praised her teammate for being an opponent’s matchup nightmare.
“She’s [Thomas] doing this every night. She’s tough to guard. She can do it all,” Cooper said. “You really want to try to take away her vision because she can pass.”
Sparks defense attempted to contain Thomas holding her to one point at halftime and only two field goals but down the stretch she scored at will to reach double figures, recording more history as the first WNBA player ever to post at least 10 points, 15 boards and 15 assists.
Speaking less about his team’s superb unselfishness on offense with five players in double figures, Mercury coach felt his team defense slacked at the end of the game.
“I think we allowed them to get to the line too much,” coach Nate Tibbetts said.
Mercury defense held Sparks to one of their lowest points games of this season scoring under 90. Kelsey Plum battled Kahleah Copper all night, shoving and jawing at one another on various plays.
“We did a good job. [We were] forcing some turnovers, getting some steals, and then we turned it right back over,” Coach Roberts explained. “Trying to play too fast. In the half court, it was okay. We didn’t shoot great from three. I think that’s where the difference in the game is. They went 11-for-25, we went 7-for-24, everything else is about the same.”
Plum eventually found her rhythm late in the game at the charity stripe going a perfect 4-for-4 to reach 20 points off 50 percent field goal percentage. Plum leads the league with most 20 points game and at least four assists, six more than New York Liberty Sabrina Ionescu.
“I think in the second half, we were able to get back into the rhythm and I think where it hurt us the most was just transitioning,” Azurá Stevens said. “For [the Mercury], they got a lot of points in the first half, but in the second half, we were able to clean that up.”
Jackson and Dearica Hamby carried the offensive load for Los Angeles, both scoring 13 apiece at halftime. Hamby finished with 25 points, eight rebounds and five steals. Jackson amassed 21 points, nailing four triples and now at least three triples in four consecutive games for the first time in her career off a 57 percent shooting behind the arc.
“We all want to win and I won’t apologize for that, but I’m not [going to] blame the officiating, we gotta fight through things and have that toughness to us,” coach Roberts said.
Satou Sabally led Mercury with 19 points, tallying 12 of them in the first quarter. Copper added 18 points while two other Mercury players came off the bench to reach double figures, DeWanna Bonner and Sami Whitcomb, 14 and 17, respectively.
Los Angeles Sparks (17-19) have two more home games to wrap up this month, Friday against Indiana Fever and Sunday versus Washington Mystics that they need to win, giving them any chance of extending their season and making the playoffs. Meanwhile, Phoenix (23-14) secured their playoff standings as a fourth-place team.
