Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Big-time fourth-quarter heroics saved the Sparks in the win over the touring Mystics

Kelsey Plum and Dearica Hamby kept the Sparks from folding against the visiting Mystics. Despite Washington being eliminated from playoff contention, they tried to play spoiler, hanging around until the end. Los Angeles’ flimsy playoff hopes stay alive with six games remaining, the last three being at home. 

The Sparks took first blood with a 12-0 run. They flashed a 2-3 zone early, plus benefited from missed open shots while holding Washington to 16.7% first-quarter shooting.  Rickea Jackson built most of LA’s 11-point lead, making two trays on and off the dribble, plus got to the line. Cameron Brink came off the bench, warping drives to the basket, too.

Then the Mystics tied the game with Sonia Citron on the bench by cracking the zone for an inside finish, scoring on the break after a turnover, Kiki Iriafen making a right-side jumper, Jade Melbourne downing a left-side triple, and Lucy Olsen stealing (her fourth) and scoring in Washington territory for a layup.  But the Sparks countered with a 16-7 run, pulling away in the fast lane as the visitors went cold.

The Sparks led 40-31 at intermission, setting an 11-2 edge in fastbreak points. Iriafen was the only Mystic starter to log more than a field goal (3), and the other four combined for 18.1% shooting in the first half. 

Iriafen followed up with cutting layups and a midrange jumper, but her teammates were allergic to the net for almost nine minutes. On the other side, the Sparks’ ball movement exposed the guests, and they raised their advantage to 14, but they got too comfortable. The edge was cut to six heading into the fourth on a late burst from Lucy Olsen, Emily Engstler, Shakira Austin and Citron. 

The Mystics were like a fighter with a second wind in the championship rounds, and they took their first lead of the game nearly 2 minutes into the fourth on a drive-and-kick triple set up for Stefanie Dolson. Yet Plum, who had made one of seven shots through three quarters, punished Washington from the outside and sliced inside, and Hamby’s rim pressure broke down the Mystics. The former had 14 of her 18 digits in the fourth. 

The Sparks won 81-78 while being outscored off the bench by 17. Their record improved to 18-20.

At her on-court interview, Plum said it’s the point of the season when everyone is tired and praised her teammates for their resolve and ball screen defense. She knew she would get loose, and they had no answers for her off-ball movement and pull-up shots when she did.