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Takeaways: Connecticut Sun defeat Los Angeles Sparks in Game 1

By Howard Megdal

BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 17: Courtney Williams #10 of the Connecticut Sun handles the ball against the Los Angeles Sparks on September 17, 2019 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 17: Courtney Williams #10 of the Connecticut Sun handles the ball against the Los Angeles Sparks on September 17, 2019 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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In a battle of WNBA elites, a rush to get on the board first

UNCASVILLE, CT — Game 1 of the WNBA semifinal series between the Connecticut Sun and Los Angeles Sparks featured an abundance of star power, with both sides scrambling to hold or gain home court after a regular season in which both teams dominated on their own floor.

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Ultimately, the home team received what it needed from its mainstays, and took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series, 84-75.

MOP cleans up early

Candace Parker found Nneka Ogwumike for the first points of the game on a baseline drive, then a second on a backdoor feed to Ogwumike to facilitate early. Seven points, four rebounds, two assists and a block by end of the first quarter for Parker, who clearly had been here before.

Parker continued to dominate play when she was on the floor, and spent a timeout late in the second quarter, after sinking an impossible step-through shot that led to a Curt Miller timeout, talking through much of it to Chelsea Gray, providing leadership in real time. Then she punctuated the half with a block of a driving Jasmine Thomas.

The Sun MVP early was AT

But the defenses both quickly asserted themselves, however, with the Sun forcing four early turnovers and the Sparks pushing the Sun into some uncharacteristic early difficult shots.  With Jonquel Jones and Courtney Williams missing early on, it was Alyssa Thomas carrying the load, scoring 13 points in the first quarter alone, often on drives down the court from rebounds she’d corralled at the other end.

UNCASVILLE, CT – SEPTEMBER 17: Candace Parker #3 of the Los Angeles Sparks handles the ball against the Connecticut Sun on September 17, 2019 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
UNCASVILLE, CT – SEPTEMBER 17: Candace Parker #3 of the Los Angeles Sparks handles the ball against the Connecticut Sun on September 17, 2019 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /

“Alyssa certainly, we run her early and she was in her downhill attacking mode,” Miller said after the game. “And, really allowed us for the game to settle in, with that start.”

Jones and Williams, meanwhile combined with one field goal in the first quarter. Even so, the Sun led, 21-14, on a three by Jasmine Thomas at the buzzer.

Anyone can be the hero

Adjustments in the second on both teams made for a different game flow. For the Sun, Curt Miller went to Bri Jones for Jonquel Jones after the latter was ineffective early. And Derek Fisher countered with a set of Ogwumikes, Alana Beard, Sydney Wiese and Riquna Williams. It only seemed to speed up the Sun, and Fisher quickly got Candace Parker back in the game. Bri Jones picked up two quick fouls, so it was on to a big lineup with Jonquel Jones, Morgan Tuck, Alyssa Thomas and Shekinna Stricklen as an oversized two, Courtney Williams the only titular guard (though Alyssa Thomas is skilled enough to be one, and plays like it). Fisher countered with a smaller five, putting Candace Parker and Nneka Ogwumike next to a trio of guards.

Essentially, this is how you can expect the series to go. Both teams have so many different looks, benches that won’t likely be shortened much, that Miller and Fisher can counteract one another every time out.

A third-quarter surge

Coming out of the half trailing 40-37, the Sun hit three threes early in the period, two of them on drive-and-kick feeds from Courtney Williams to Shekinna Stricklen. The offense looked more like the top-three machine it had been all season.

Quickly enough, both defenses asserted themselves once again, and an officiating crew fought to keep things civil, and it was left to big players to rise above in fits and starts — a Courtney Williams baseline jumper, a Candace Parker three. The Sun led, 59-58, heading to the final quarter.

“Our focus coming in was on defense, period,” Sun guard Jasmine Thomas said. “That’s where we pride ourselves — play tough defense and disrupt.”

Winning time

BOSTON, MA – SEPTEMBER 17: Jonquel Jones #35 of the Connecticut Sun shoots the ball against the Los Angeles Sparks on September 17, 2019 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – SEPTEMBER 17: Jonquel Jones #35 of the Connecticut Sun shoots the ball against the Los Angeles Sparks on September 17, 2019 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The fourth quarter saw Jonquel Jones take over, along with Williams, the Sun stars rising to the challenge of winning this one at home. Jones hit a pair of threes, Williams was a factor at both ends, and the performances necessary for the Sun to maximize their potential manifested itself through the team’s two biggest stars.

Williams hit a vintage tough two around a screen on one end, secured the rebound at the defensive end, turning a 76-70 game into an all-but decided contest with just over a minute of play.

“Put the ball in my hand, I’m going to do my best to go get a bucket, I’m going to do my best to get a rebound, get a stop,” Williams said when it was over. “Whatever I’ve got to do for us to win, that’s what I’m going to do.”

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