The LA Sparks’ Closing Problem

Recurring themes hurt Los Angeles in the Sparks 0-3 road trip.

Written By: Molly Tepper
Twitter: mollytepper

The Los Angeles Sparks (12-23) dropped all three games on their road trip, and each defeat pointed to the same issue: closing games. On Thursday, August 13th, against the New York Liberty (21-14), LA erased a 28-point deficit and was in position to match the biggest comeback in league history before ultimately losing the game 85-81. Two days later, against the Washington Mystics (20-14), heading into the third quarter, the Sparks were up by three, yet they were held to only 12 points in the fourth, allowing the Mystics to cruise to an 80-70 victory. In the finale against the Connecticut Sun (9-25), LA never got within striking distance nor took the lead, falling 85-77. Despite the different ways they have lost, the issue remains consistent. The Sparks can build runs throughout the game, but are unable to sustain them down the stretch.

In last Thursday’s game, the Sparks were outscored 18-9 in the third quarter and, early in the fourth, were down 69-41. Most assumed it would be an easy victory for the Liberty. However, Los Angeles went on a 21-0 run, dominated by Rae Burrell, who contributed 11 of those points and finished with 20 of her 28 in the fourth quarter alone. With less than 30 seconds left on the clock, the Sparks were down by one possession. A shot from downtown would tie the game and put the Sparks in position to tie the Chicago Sky for the biggest comeback in league history. A reverse layup by Burrell put the Sparks within one; however, Sabrina Ionescu made both her free throws, extending New York’s lead to three once again. With the final possession to tie the game, Ariel Atkins missed a three-pointer, forcing the Sparks to foul Ionescu, which ultimately sealed the game.

Post-game, Coach Lynne Roberts talked about the inconsistency problems this year:

“I know what this team is capable of. I know their hearts and their minds are in the right place. They want to win. They want to do things right, so it’s not them going rogue or doing their own thing. They’re all connected; it’s just sometimes we are inconsistent in the intensity. And for us to be a great team, great teams have to be consistent. You can miss shots. You can have a bad shooting night. But you’ve got to be consistent in your intensity, and that’s something we are still working on.”

In their next matchup in D.C., a tight possession battle kept the first quarter close. A few minutes into the second quarter, however, the Mystics went on an 11-2 run, pushing their lead to 35-26. The Sparks closed the gap to two by halftime, thanks to threes from Erica Wheeler and Burrell. With three minutes to go in the third, LA led by nine. However, the Mystics went on an 8-0 run, and the Sparks were only up 58-55 to close the quarter.

Coach Roberts on being unable to run away with the lead in the third:

“In the third quarter, I thought defensively we were great. We just didn’t convert. I felt like we were getting good looks; it was just kind of unlucky. That’s what I thought allowed them to get back in it is we had control of the game, and we just didn’t convert. I thought we had a chance to really pull away or get a more comfortable lead, but it just sometimes bounces that way.”

In the last six minutes of the game, Shakira Austin made a layup, putting the Mystics up by one for the first time since the half. Sonia Citron would go on to collect seven points, including a clutch three-pointer that put D.C. up 74-69 and pushed their momentum to close it out with a 9-1 run.

In their final game on the road, the Sparks were without Erica Wheeler, Cameron Brink, and Monique Akoa Makani due to injury. The Sparks never had a lead to enhance as they trailed the entire game. The Sun controlled the match from the opening basket, leading by as many as 21. Connecticut went on continuous runs, as LA spent the entire night chasing that lead. Through the three-game trip, the Sparks were unable to find a way to close out the game or make a big run, ultimately contributing to their poor record.

Coach Roberts is looking past the final minutes to the process ahead. In the post-game after the loss to the Mystics, she said:

“It’s another learning experience, another game that we continue. The problem will be if we stop learning and stop fighting like that. We’ve had different lineups. We have had to get creative with just injuries and not having Cam and not having Mo. We’ve had to call on people that need to be ready, and they’ve done a good job. We just have to keep chopping, and if these guys continue to show up the way they’re doing and giving us everything they got, then I’m cool with it. The outcome takes care of itself.”

The Sparks will return to LA for a four-game homestand, taking on the Atlanta Dream on Thursday at 7 p.m.

Photography Credits: LA Sparks/WNBA Photography

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