LOS ANGELES — Lindsay Allen scored 16 points, Kamilla Cardoso and rookie Angel Reese posted double-doubles and the Chicago Sky rallied in the fourth quarter to beat Los Angeles 90-86 on Saturday, handing the Sparks their fifth straight loss at home.
Chicago (11-15) trailed 74-64 at the start of the final period, but a turnaround jumper from Allen and a Rachel Banham 3-pointer halved the Sky’s deficit just 61 seconds in. Cardoso followed with a layup as Chicago scored the first seven points. Odyssey Sims answered with a layup for Los Angeles (6-20), but Reese had a layup and Cardoso scored twice inside to give the Sky a 77-76 lead with 6:35 left to play.
Stephanie Talbot pulled the Sparks even at 79 with a 3-pointer at the 4:43 mark. Reese hit 1 of 2 free throws to give Chicago the lead, Michaela Onyenwere followed with a layup and the Sky never trailed again.
Allen made 7 of 11 shots from the floor for Chicago. She added six assists. Cardoso scored 15 points and had 14 rebounds, while Reese tallied 14 points and 11 boards. Banham sank three 3-pointers and scored 14.
Kia Nurse scored 16 to lead the Sparks, who have dropped the last five matchups with the Sky. LA has lost three straight overall. Rickea Jackson and Talbot added 13 points each. Crystal Dangerfield chipped in with 11 points and six assists. Azurá Stevens had 10 points, six rebounds and four assists.
The Sparks took their first lead at 20-18 on a layup by Dearica Hamby with 2:51 left in the first quarter. Chennedy Carter had back-to-back baskets to cap a 6-0 run and help the Sky take a 26-25 lead after one period.
Nurse had 13 points by halftime and her 3-pointer with 4:49 left in the second quarter put the Sparks ahead 35-33. Nurse made five straight free throws for a 43-38 advantage. Chicago pulled within a point twice, but Dangerfield hit a 3-pointer with 10 seconds to go to put LA up 46-42 at intermission.
Banham hit a 3-pointer to begin the third quarter for the Sky, but Stevens answered with one of her own and the Sparks maintained a lead. Dana Evans connected from beyond the arc to pull Chicago within 66-64 with 2:06 left in the period. Talbot had three layups in an 8-0 run and LA took a 10-point lead into the final 10 minutes.
UP NEXT
Chicago: Sky travel to play the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday.
Los Angeles: Sparks hit the road to play the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday.
In a thrilling matchup between the Chicago Sky and the Los Angeles Sparks, the Sky rallied in the fourth quarter to secure a hard-fought victory and extend the Sparks’ home losing streak to five games. The game was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading leads throughout the first three quarters.
The Sparks came out strong in the first half, building a comfortable lead behind the stellar play of their star players. However, the Sky refused to back down and mounted a comeback in the fourth quarter, fueled by a combination of strong defense and clutch shooting.
One of the key factors in the Sky’s comeback was their ability to limit the Sparks’ scoring opportunities and force turnovers. The Sky’s defense tightened up in the fourth quarter, disrupting the Sparks’ offensive flow and creating fast break opportunities for themselves.
Offensively, the Sky were led by their dynamic duo of Allie Quigley and Candace Parker. Quigley knocked down several crucial three-pointers down the stretch, while Parker used her size and skill to dominate in the paint. Their scoring prowess was complemented by solid contributions from the rest of the team, as the Sky’s balanced attack proved too much for the Sparks to handle.
As the final buzzer sounded, the Sky emerged victorious with a hard-fought win over the Sparks. The victory not only extended the Sparks’ home losing streak to five games but also served as a statement win for the Sky, who have now firmly established themselves as contenders in the league.
Overall, the Sky’s comeback victory over the Sparks was a testament to their resilience and determination. With strong defense, timely shooting, and contributions from their key players, the Sky were able to overcome a tough opponent on the road and secure an important win. As they look ahead to the rest of the season, the Sky will undoubtedly build on this momentum and continue to make noise in the league.