Minnesota Lynx forward Maria Kliundikova attempts to shoot over Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum during Saturday’s game at Target Center. Photo by Abe Booker III/Sportspage Magazine
MINNEAPOLIS – For the second time in a seven-day span, the Minnesota Lynx dispatched the Los Angeles Sparks at home. The visiting Sparks came into that Target Center on June 14 and lost 101-78, and Saturday, exactly seven days later, were on the short end of an 82-66 rout in front of an 8,777 strong crowd in Minneapolis.
Minnesota opened the game with a three-pointer and reverse layup from guard Courtney Williams, and two free throws from guard Kayla McBride, who was fouled by Sparks guard Shey Peddy. The 8-0 Lynx run forced the Sparks to call an early timeout to regroup with 7:50 remaining in the opening frame. The first three Sparks possessions all ended in turnovers.
Sparks forward Azura Stevens picked up the pace for Los Angeles with two three-pointers and a layup, which was answered only with a single free throw from Minnesota forward Alanna Smith, who was fouled by Stevens. The 8-1 Los Angeles run gave the home team the 9-8 lead with 6:23 remaining in the first quarter.
The Lynx veteran guards worked hard to find separation as Williams made a midrange jump shot, McBride made a three-pointer and a jump shot, and Natisha Hiedeman came off the bench to score a basket. Sparks forward Dearica Hamby scored on a three-point play as she was fouled by McBride after making a layup. The 9-3 run gave Minnesota the 18-11 lead.
Sparks guard Kelsey Plum made a layup, which was answered by a three-pointer from Lynx forward Alissa Pili. Los Angeles forward Rickea Jackson answered with a three-pointer of her own, and Minnesota held a 21-16 lead at the end of the opening quarter.
Los Angeles Sparks guard Sarah Ashlee Barker attempts a short jump shot sandwiched between Minnesota Lynx guards Natisha Hiedeman and Kayla McBride (21), during Saturday’s game at Target Center. Photo by Abe Booker III/Sportpage Magazine
However, Los Angeles was determined to not repeat their first-half mistakes from a week earlier. Pili and Williams each scored baskets for Minnesota at the beginning of the second quarter, but Hamby and Plum went on a tear. Hamby made two layups along with a buzzer-beating three-pointer that was negated after review. Plum made two layups and a three-pointer. Forward Emma Cannon scored on a put back layup. After a 13-2 Los Angeles run, the Sparks led 29-25 with 3:21 remaining until halftime.
McBride made two free throws after getting fouled by guard Sarah Ashlee Barker, cutting the Minnesota deficit to two points. Then Minnesota’s Maria Kliundikova exerted her presence on the court. The 6-4 forward, who started in place of injured Lynx forward Napheesa Collier, hit a three-pointer for a 30-29 Lynx lead. Then she answered each Los Angeles layup with one of her own, until Plum made a layup at the buzzer to give Los Angeles the 35-34 halftime lead.
Both teams fought hard in the third quarter. Hamby made two free throws. Kliundikova responded with a put back layup after a missed three-pointer by Lynx forward Bridget Carleton. Plum answered with a jump shot, which was met with a three-pointer by Courtney Williams to tie the score 39-39 with 8:17 left in the third quarter. It was the game’s first tie.
Peddy answered with a three-pointer of her own to break the tie. McBride, Stevens, Peddy and Plum all made trips to the free throw line, and when Courtney Williams made a layup with 3:20 left in the quarter, the game was tied again at 48-48.
Jackson and McBride exchanged baskets. Jackson fouled Lynx forward Diamond Miller, who converted both free throws for the 52-52. Then, the momentum favored the home team. Smith made a layup. Guard Karlie Samuelson made one of two free throws after getting fouled by Cannon. Los Angeles center Mercedes Russell made two free throws after Smith picked up her fourth foul of the game, but Miller’s fast break layup at the buzzer gave the Lynx the 57-54 lead at the end of the third quarter and momentum heading into the fourth.
Los Angeles guard Kelsey Plum led the Sparks with 15 points and four assists despite coming up short in Saturday’s game against the Minnesota Lynx at Target Center. Photo by Abe Booker III/Sportspage Magazine
Los Angeles forward Liatu King opened the fourth quarter scoring with a layup. Kliundikova made one of two free throws after getting fouled by Plum. Then Los Angeles turned the ball over on a shot clock violation but Minnesota could not convert into points at the other end. Barker made a three-pointer to give the Sparks the 59-58 lead with 7:40 left in the contest.
Both teams put their starters back on the floor. The Lynx took off on a 10-0 run. Kliundikova scored a put back layup to give Minnesota the 60-59 lead, then McBride made a three-pointer, scored on a layup and converted one free throw after getting fouled by Barker. Courtney Williams added a jump shot and the Lynx now held a 68-59 lead with 4:48 left on the clock.
Hamby made a layup for the Sparks, but Smith and McBride hit back-to-back three-pointers for Minnesota, the 13 point lead forced Los Angeles to call timeout. When play resumed, Jackson made a jump shot for Los Angeles, but McBride answered with a three-pointer. Stevens and Williams exchanged layups, then McBride hit another three ball. Emma Cannon made one of two free throws with 24.5 seconds left after getting fouled by Miller for the game’s final point. When the buzzer sounded, Minnesota won 82-66 and had finished on a 24-7 fourth quarter run.
Minnesota shot 30-for-56 (53.6 percent) from the field; 11-for-25 (44.0 percent) from three-point range; and 11-for-16 (68.8 percent) from the free throw line. They committed 21 turnovers for 16 Sparks points.
Minnesota Lynx forward Diamond Miller shoots a wide open fast break layup during Saturday’s game against the LA Sparks. Photo by Abe Booker III/Sportspage Magazine
“In the first half, we were yelling about our defense, but they’ve got 34 points. Obviously we didn’t have that many,” said Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve. “We just said, ‘Don’t let our defense spring a leak while we are trying to work through our offense. Hold that for us because that’s giving us a chance.’ We were just waiting for the right moment to break through.”
Los Angeles went 24-for-65 (36.9 percent) from the field; 7-for-31 (22.6 percent) from three-point range; and 11-for-16 (68.8 percent) from the charity stripe. They turned the ball over 17 times for 11 Lynx points.
“I thought we played for 34 really good minutes,” said Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts. “We had nine more shot attempts than them. We forced 20 turnovers. It didn’t convert. We have to shoot better. I thought we got pretty good looks.”
The Sparks held a 32-24 advantage in points-in-the-paint, and 10-9 in second chance points. The Lynx held a 10-8 lead in fast break points and 14-12 in bench scoring. There were three ties and 10 lead changes.
“I do think that LA ran really good stuff. They were executing it better than we were,” said Reeve. “I thought LA actually played well but just didn’t make as many shots.”
The Lynx were led by 29 points from Kayla McBride. Courtney Williams added 18 and Maria Kliundikova pitched in for 12 points. Kliundikova and Alanna Smith grabbed team high eight rebounds each, while Natisha Hiedeman dished six assists for Minnesota.
“Obviously with Phee [Napheesa Collier] out, everybody has to do a little more. I really wanted to be on edge and be in that competitive mode,” said McBride. “She does so much for us that I wanted to bring that competitive energy and just have fun again.”
The Sparks were led by 15 points and four assists from Kelsey Plum. Dearica Hamby pitched in with 13 points and Azura Stevens chipped in 11 points and a game high nine rebounds.
“Defensively we showed them what we want our identity to be moving forward. We showed that we are capable of playing hard, pressuring the ball and getting into people’s faces,” said Hamby. “That should be the way we should play for 40 minutes moving forward.”
Minnesota (12-1) travels to Washington (5-8) for a 7 p.m. CT matchup against the Mystics on Tuesday. Los Angeles (4-10) travels to Chicago (3-9) for a 7 p.m. CT game against the Sky also on Tuesday.
