Sparks Make Believers of Comets
This was an hour before the game, when Houston Comet Coach Van Chancellor was schmoozing with old friends at the Great Western Forum.
He sized up his expectations this way:
“We’ll play well, we’ll get a 10-point lead and blow it, then we’ll sneak back in it and I think we’ll have a close game with L.A.”
Wrong. There was no 10-point Houston lead, no rallying from a deficit . . . and no win, either.
In the biggest win in their three seasons, the Sparks, 28 hours after losing in Phoenix to the lowly Mercury, dismantled the two-time WNBA champion Houston Comets in the second half to win, 78-65.
And for an ecstatic team president, Johnny Buss, it was a double dose of good news.
Attendance was 12,178, which increased the Sparks’ troublesome average crowd from 6,779 to 7,550.
How much did he like it?
“This was hot, this was good, this was my favorite win--ever,” he said.
Yes, even better than the 1997 Sparks’ 77-52 Forum win over the Comets, their only other victory over them.
In the aftermath of a game where Los Angeles (11-6) outscored Houston (14-3), 45-30, in the second half, no one would place any limits on the winners.
“L.A. played really well,” Chancellor said.
“They seem really focused right now. We couldn’t score today, and they had a lot to do with that. They’re really good--they’ve got great depth and those two Yugoslavians are great players.”
He referred to guard Gordana Grubin, who made four three-point baskets--three in the second half within three minutes--and 6-foot-6 Nina Bjedov, whose eight-foot baseline jumper with 6:33 left gave the Sparks a 63-47 lead and got the crowd on its feet and roaring.
Lisa Leslie, in probably her best complete game this summer, dominated inside with 20 points, 12 rebounds and three assists. Later, she attributed it to New York-rooted confidence.
“Winning that MVP award at the All-Star Game, did so much for my confidence,” she said.
“I’ve got great confidence in my shot now. And we learned today when we work the ball around, work the shot clock, box people out, we can really be good.”
Leslie continually drove around Houston defenders such as Polina Tzekova and Tammy Jackson for easy layups.
“We’ve been telling her to take that shot, when the drive is there, and now she’s doing it,” said assistant coach Michael Cooper.
Coach Orlando Woolridge wasn’t surprised.
“As long as we don’t beat ourselves, when we minimize our mistakes, wait for good shots and we box people off the boards . . . we can beat anyone,” he said.
“Today we gave them a lot of different stuff to look at defensively. Houston is a rhythm team and when they get into a rhythm, they’re really tough to beat. We did a good job there, I think.”
No doubt about that.
With eight minutes left and the Sparks leading, 55-41, Houston had made only two second-half field goals.
Sheryl Swoopes had 21 points for Houston, which had a four-game winning streak snapped.
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Other Games
Crystal Robinson scored the first nine points in overtime and the New York Liberty (9-6) recovered after blowing a 14-point lead to defeat the Utah Starzz (5-10), 88-82, at New York.
