Sparks pull away at home over Aces
The Los Angeles Sparks gradually seized control of Thursday’s game in L.A. A 5-0 spurt to start the fourth quarter pushed their lead to 18 en route to an 86-74 victory over the Las Vegas Aces.
Riquna Williams drew her first start of the season for the Sparks and scored 18 points in 35 minutes, including three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.
The Aces backcourt continued to struggle from the field—Kayla McBride, Jackie Young and Kelsey Plum shot a combined 5-of-27 from the field.
“I thought our shot selection today was fine,” Aces head coach and president of basketball operations Bill Laimbeer said postgame. “We didn’t make any shots. We have to find a way to can some of those. We’re getting good looks.”
“I don’t ever doubt myself shooting,” added McBride. “I’m one of the best shooters in the world, and I believe in every one of my teammates.”
The Aces turned the ball over 19 times. Turnovers remain a top concern, sapping any flow they develop within individual stretches while fueling early-offense opportunities for their opponents.
“I keep preaching that we’re going to lose games left and right because we don’t take care of the basketball and this is a very tough league,” Laimbeer said. “If we keep turning it over like this, we’re going to have a problem.”
“A lot of times we’re looking but not executing,” Tamera Young said postgame. “If the defender is there or you see the help side, only the guards can see how the posts are being guarded. We have to take better care of the ball to be sure of our passes.”
“We just have to stay connected,” added McBride. “We’re still trying to figure out each other on the offensive end, and that takes practice time that we don’t have because we play so often in this league. We’re still trying to learn each other and figure it out. It just comes with time, chemistry.”
The Aces play their next three games at home before four straight on the road as the All-Star break approaches. Entering Saturday’s game, they’re one of five teams separated by just one game in the standings.
“We’re in a league where you have to play great every single night,” A’ja Wilson said. “That’s the beauty of our league. Every single night you have to be on your game. There are no plays off, no games off, or you’ll get beat. It’s as simple as that.
“But at the same time, we’ve really gotta buckle down in places. And I hold myself accountable for that.”
“ just made shots and made plays,” McBride said. “And we didn’t.”
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