WNBA Los Angeles Sparks

Sparks Pull Away from Aces in Candace Parker's Return

Published on August 2, 2019 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Los Angeles Sparks News Release


LOS ANGELES-- With two-time MVP Candace Parker returning to the lineup, the Sparks won their fifth consecutive home game, 76-68 over the Aces.

The game was the Sparks first since the All-Star break, and marked their eighth win in ten games as they improved to 12-8. The Sparks took a 2-1 season series lead over the Aces, with one game left in Las Vegas over Labor Day weekend. Las Vegas fell to 14-7, just their second loss over the course of their last 12 games played.

All-Stars Chelsea Gray and Nneka Ogwumike led the way for the Sparks, both recording double- doubles. Ogwumike led all scorers in the contest with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Ogwumike recorded her ninth double-doubles of the season, the third most in the WNBA. With her eight made field goals, Nneka Ogwumike surpassed 1,500 field goals made in her career. Gray tallied a game- high 16 points and 10 assists. This marks Gray's first double-double of the season. The three-time All-Star also recorded triple-double on July 7th against the Mystics.

The game also marked a return for three players for the Sparks, forwards Candace Parker and Maria Vadeeva and guard Alexis Jones. Parker, who has been out for the last five games due to an ankle injury, returned in epic fashion, scoring 16 points and grabbing seven rebounds. Vadeeva, who returned from overseas commitments and a knee injury, provided the Sparks with nine minutes of game time and a go-ahead layup in the third quarter. Jones, who has been sidelined since June 26th with a knee injury gave Los Angeles valuable minutes off the bench, playing over 20 minutes and tying her career-high with four rebounds.

The Aces were led by All-Star starter Kayla McBride, who scored 19 points of her own, shooting 50% from behind the 3-point line. Also helping the Aces was forward Dearica Hamby who recorded a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Though getting in early foul trouble, center Liz Cambage scored nine points and grabbed five rebounds.

Los Angeles has been one of the Aces' Achilles heel, as the Sparks are the only team to have defeated the Aces twice this season. The 68 points for the Aces is their second lowest point total on the road this season, with only a 66 point performance against the Seattle being worse offensively. Though the Aces have averaged 81 points a game this season, in their three matchups with the Sparks, Las Vegas is averaging 75 points.

The Sparks started off the first quarter with a transition 3-pointer from Sydney Wiese after a block by Tierra Ruffin-Pratt, to give the Sparks their first points of the game. Parker knocked down a 3-pointer of her own while being fouled and converted the four-point play. Los Angeles started off the game on an 16-6 run, led by Parker who had nine points to lead all scorers.

The second quarter began in Vegas' favor, going on a 12-2 run to start the quarter, to give the Aces a one point lead with five minutes to go in the quarter. Chelsea Gray quickly responded with a sideline jumper to reclaim the lead for the Sparks. The second quarter featured five lead changes over the course of a five-minute span. Las Vegas saw their lead grow to four points, as they outscored Los Angeles 20-6 during the run. Aces' guard Kayla McBride hit a buzzer-beating shot to tie the game at 40 at the half.

Vegas started off the third quarter with eight quick points, including four points from Liz Cambage.

The Aces lead ballooned to eight points midway through the third quarter, but 3-pointers by Sydney Wiese and Nneka Ogwumike brought the Sparks back within three. Center Kalani Brown scored an and-1 layup to tie the game at 56 with three minutes left in the quarter. Alexis Jones, in her first game back from injury, gave the Sparks the lead with two minutes left in the quarter, making a deep three- point shot.

The Aces scored the first points of the quarter three minutes into the quarter. Candace Parker hit her third 3-pointer of the game with two and a half minutes left in the quarter to extend the Sparks lead to six points. Parker's third 3-pointer of the game marked her season-high for 3-point field goals made.

Chelsea Gray hit a fadeaway jumper with a minute and a half left to bring the lead to eight points and ice the game.

Up next: The Sparks will look to extend their home winning streak to six games when they take on the Seattle Storm on Sunday August 4th at 2 p.m. on Spectrum SportsNet.

Sparks Notes

- The Sparks have used 9 different starting lineups this season. Candace Parker, Chelsea Gray, Nneka Ogwumike, Sydney Wiese and Tierra Ruffin-Pratt started tonight

- Vadeeva made an appearance at the end of the first quarter after playing overseas and battling a knee injury

- Nneka Ogwumike passed 1,500 field goals made, and ended the game in double figures for the 16th time this season

- Chelsea Gray ends the game in double-figures for the 14th time this season, finishing the game with a double-double

Aces Notes

- Tamera Young recorded her 1,000 career field goal, becoming the 72nd WNBA player to reach that mark.

- Kayla McBride made her 500th career free throw after connecting on all four of her attempts from the charity stripe in the first half. She is the 35th fastest player to reach that mark, accomplishing the feat in 159 games.

- Dearica Hamby notched her fifth double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

- Las Vegas struggled against the Sparks' defense, scoring only 68 points. The Aces have averaged 81.3 points per game throughout the season.

Quotes

Coach Fisher on transitioning back from the All-Star break:

"It's tough. You get used to practicing and playing every couple days and there's routine to it and then all of a sudden there's a week with no games, people have traveled home, and they're not training the same, etc., taking a few days off. So typically there's a good degree of rust that you have to try and find a way to play through and shake off."

Coach Fisher on Candace Parker's performance and integration into Derek Fisher's offense:

"You know, she's been through a lot this year and it's been frustrating for her to go through this process and not be available for her and herself and for the team. I thought she blended in really well.

She was aggressive at times when she needed to, but she also left room for other people to do their thing. Her stat line - that's the type of statline that we've kind of become accustomed to over the course of her career."

Coach Fisher on how his team kept the momentum:

"The momentum really swung back in our favor to start the third quarter. I thought Las Vegas was more purposeful. They started the third quarter with the intent of trying to impose their will on us and for a few minutes, they did. I thought in the third quarter too, we ended with a few of our bench players out there and they just came in and competed for us hard...we need people to be able to come in and contribute and I think they answered."

Candace Parker on returning to action after missing five games due to injury:

"It's been a crazy season but it was great to be back, obviously, at home. Never take the game of basketball for granted. I'm just happy to be out there with my teammates. You know, when you get in the game, and you feel good - you know, obviously my lungs were an issue, but the body held up good. It's just about recovery now."

Candace Parker on Chelsea Gray's impact against the Aces:

"It's the same thing we see all year, right? It's great. Her court vision, her ability to continue to maintain composure - she's a big guard, so they have to really be physical with her, and so her ability to control the offense and make the correct play [is huge]."

Nneka Ogwumike on the remaining home schedule:

"It's huge. I think we have something like ten games in August that are at home, so hopefully we'll be able to establish an attitude of winning at home. Also reducing the amount of travel will be helpful, especially now that we have more bodies. It'll allow us to get more of our chemistry going in practice as well."

Nneka Ogwumike on Alexis Jones' play to close out the game:

"I just loved that she wasn't fazed by the ups and downs of the game. She just came in and was trying her best to contribute in the best way that she can - supporting us, always open to figuring out how she can impact the game positively, and she just didn't give up. She was aggressive and she looked like she was just happy to be playing."

Bill Laimbeer's Opening Statement:

"Every now and then people get in foul trouble. We have other players who are able to come in and pick it up. We got behind in the first quarter but our bench did a good job of coming to get the game back and in their control for a tied half time. Second half we just turned the ball over and didn't take care of the basketball. We missed easy shots and lost the game."

Bill Laimbeer on Tamera Young:

"She played hard and played with the energy that's necessary in this league to compete and to be successful."

Bill Laimbeer on what he would like to see from offense?

"I want to see less turnovers. I want to see shots going in. We got good looks, we didn't make it. We need to be more concentrated and we need to make big shots in big games and haven't done that."

Bill Laimbeer on defense:

"I thought the transition defense was not very good today. They got some easy baskets. They have too many layups in the paint which is not very good."

Tamera Young on what has gotten her more involved in the offense:

"The break was good, I was able to go home and do some work with my trainer, but also my mindset for the second half of the season is being more aggressive, I have to help lead more with my experience."

Tamera Young on the fourth quarter:

"I think we need to execute better. We were trying to run plays to execute down the stretch but it led to not being able to score. At that point where you're not making shots, you have to get stops and we didn't do that either."

Dearica Hamby on Tamera Young:

"Ty is a professional every time she comes in and she does what she has to to make this team better."

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