Sparks look to break losing streak against Storm
It’s been almost two weeks since the Sparks last tasted victory. The only thing standing in the way of breaking a fourgame losing streak is an arduous road matchup tonight against the defending WNBA champion Seattle Storm.
In the first of a twogame series against the Storm (14-4) on Sunday, the Sparks kept things competitive, coming back from another double-digit deficit in the third quarter, before falling 84-74.
Instead of dwelling on the losses, the Sparks (611) are focusing on threeminute intervals.
“We’re going to just try to lean on that so that we disconnect ourselves from viewing wins and losses as the only barometer to what you’re doing as a team on the court,” Sparks coach Derek Fisher said.
UP NEXT
Today: Sparks at Storm, 7p.m., CBSSN
Within a 10-minute stretch in the third quarter Sunday, the Sparks did everything right. The league’s lowest-rated offense put up a season-high 28 points in one period while shooting 58% from 3-point range.
The Sparks went on a 2610 run and took as much as an eight-point lead. But they were outscored 28-16 in the fourth.
“When things are working we’re just going back to it until the team that we’re playing that night figures out how to stop it,” Sparks guard Brittney Sykes said. “Kudos to us that our offensive flow is starting to really go together in clumps.”
They’ll have to learn how to execute on the offensive end consistently to avoid falling in a deeper hole.
The Storm, who are tied with the Las Vegas Aces for the best record in the league, are led by Sue Bird, Breanna Stewart and Jewell Loyd. The Sparks had trouble containing the former MVP Stewart while Bird moved up to sixth on the WNBA all-time scoring list (6,452). Loyd did not play as she’s nursing an ankle injury.
Nneka and Chiney Ogwumike haven’t played in more than 10 games for the Sparks after sustaining knee injuries less than a week apart. Kristi Toliver (eye) also hasn’t played during Los Angeles’ fourgame skid.
Toliver received stitches after getting hit in the face against the Washington Mystics on June 24. Fisher said before Sunday’s loss that Tuesday might be the earliest the stitches can be removed. With a head injury, Fisher said they’re being cautious to not make it any worse.
Only two games remain before the month-long Olympic break. Both Ogwumike sisters, along with their younger sister Erica, were named Tuesday to the Nigerian national provisional team. If they are on the final roster they’ll suit up in green in Tokyo.
Meanwhile the Sparks will focus on three minutes on the court and getting healthy off of it.
“Getting healthy is key for any team to reach its full potential, and that’s something that we just haven’t been this year,” Fisher said. “We’ll get there, hopefully sooner than later.”