Indianapolis, In- Sparks started the game with a 9-0 run, full of energy by a team appearing geared up ready to return home after playing three consecutive road games to snatch a final quarter comeback win over Fever, 85-75 at Gainsbridge Fieldhouse.
Sparks forward Rickea Jackson led all scorers in the first quarter with eight points, shooting 75 percent from the field, while her team shot 50 percent from the field and 40 percent from deep.
“I thought our ball movement was better, and… when we move the ball, good things happen,” coach Lynne Roberts said. “But it also helps that our posts had big nights. Azurá [Stevens] was huge…”
Indiana played without Caitlin Clark which seem like a huge pill to swallow for her team and a shock to Sparks coach Roberts.
“Not having [Caitlin Clark], she’s their engine so it changes what you do, not to say that they don’t [have] other great players, but she is the catalyst, coach Roberts said. “so you have to adjust your game plan for that. Luckily, [we found out] before shootaround, so we adapted on the fly.”
Indiana made 35 percent of their shots and hit less than 20 percent from beyond the arc in the first quarter. Struggling most of the first half to make buckets, the Fever kept their lead as Sparks bailed them out with not taking care of the ball, committing 15 turnovers for the half.
Possessions the Sparks did maintain, they dished 25 assists doubling the total of the Fever to keep the lead within close distance going into halftime, 34-30.
“Coach has been harping just on keeping the ball poppin’ and they were switching a ton tonight,” Kelsey Plum said. “We struggled early trying to make the right pass so the intent was good, and I think as the game went along, we settled down and we got the ball to where we needed to. It was a great collective effort.”
Los Angeles continued hanging around enough to not let the game get out of reach, while Indiana carried over their momentum into the third quarter while the other Kelsey, Kelsey Mitchell warmed up from the three point line, hitting 3 out of 3 to score 11 points giving her team an eight point advantage, 58-50.
By the fourth quarter, the Sparks identified ways to exploit mismatches after slowing down Mitchell and Boston, leaving the pressure on the rest of the Fever team to attempt beating them.
“It was just a collective effort — throwing bodies, trying to dig when we can,” coach Roberts said. So, it was really cool to be able to capitalize on that because everyone contributed.”
Stevens delivered on both ends to lead her team with 23 points, 14 in the fourth quarter and containing Boston to only 12 points. Plum, Hamby and Jackson all finished in double figures, chartering up a 35-15 run on 78.6 percent field goal shooting and zero turnovers to seal the victory.
“There was just a more confident intensity to how we were playing. We went up four [points] with a couple minutes to go, and I didn’t have in my mind at all any sort of ‘Oh no,’ and I didn’t sense that from the players either,” Coach Roberts said. “I thought our players played to win, which means you keep attacking, you keep rebounding, keep defending.”
Next up for the Sparks as they return home at Crypto.com Arena to host the Chicago Sky on Sunday, June 29th, 1 p.m. PT alongside a celebration for Candace Parker’s Jersey Retirement Day.
