Mabika Rescues Sparks
Mwadi Mabika made a three-point basket as time expired to help the Sparks defeat the Phoenix Mercury, 67-64, Friday night at Phoenix in front of 9,219 to end Los Angeles’ four-game losing streak.
The officiating crew used replays to confirm the game-winner, which came off an inbounds pass by Jennifer Gillom with 0.6 seconds to play and was released before the horn sounded.
“They drew the play up for somebody else and I was supposed to take it out but I didn’t want to take it out,” Mabika said. “I wanted to shoot it and I shot it.”
Nikki Teasley scored 16 points, Mabika added 15 and Vanessa Nygaard had 14 for the Sparks (19-9), who held onto first place in the Western Conference by a half-game over Houston.
The Sparks erased a 12-point halftime deficit and led, 64-61, with 45 seconds left on Tamecka Dixon’s three-point play. But Tamicha Jackson made a three-point basket with 35 seconds left to tie it for Phoenix (6-21), which has lost 16 straight games, including playoffs, to the Sparks.
After a Los Angeles turnover, the Mercury missed a shot that went out of bounds with 0.6 seconds left.
The Sparks improved to 4-6 without All-Star center Lisa Leslie, who is out because of a knee injury. Three of those wins came against Phoenix. The Sparks also played without DeLisha Milton, who has an ankle injury.
Phoenix, the worst free-throw shooting team in the WNBA, was 19 for 33 from the foul line, including four for six in the final 3 minutes 28 seconds.
“If we just take care of business at the free-throw line, then the game is over,” Phoenix Coach John Shumate said.
Seattle 68, Minnesota 65 -- Lauren Jackson had 16 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks to lead the Storm at Seattle in front of 8,494. The Lynx (15-13) fell 1 1/2 games behind the Storm (16-11) for third place in the Western Conference.
Houston 66, Detroit 56 -- Michelle Snow had a career-high 19 points and Sheryl Swoopes had 15 points and eight rebounds to help the Comets (18-9) beat the Shock (19-8) at Auburn Hills, Mich., in front of 10,531.
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SPARKS TONIGHT
At San Antonio, 5:30
Site -- SBC Center, San Antonio.
Radio -- KPLS (830).
Records -- Sparks 19-9, Silver Stars 9-19.
Records vs. Mercury -- 1-1.
Update -- After defeating the Mercury, which had the league’s worst record, the Sparks play the Silver Stars, who have the league’s third-worst record. San Antonio defeated the Sparks, 70-62, on July 30 at Staples Center, starting a four-game losing streak for L.A.
