Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike, left, knocks the ball away from the Minnesota Lynx’s Dorka Juhász during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Sparks point guard Jordin Canada handles the ball as the Minnesota Lynx’s Tiffany Mitchell defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike drives to the basket as the Minnesota Lynx’s Dorka Juhász defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Sparks forward Dearica Hamby, right, shoots as Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Sparks’ Karlie Samuelson, right, and the Minnesota Lynx’s Kayla McBride battle for a rebound during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Minnesota Lynx guard Tiffany Mitchell, right, is fouled as she tries to get by the Sparks’ Karlie Samuelson during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Minnesota Lynx’s Tiffany Mitchell, right, passes the ball away as Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Minnesota Lynx’s Tiffany Mitchell, left, and the Sparks’ Dearica Hamby go after a loose ball during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike, center, is fouled by the Minnesota Lynx’s Kayla McBride, right, during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Minnesota Lynx guard Tiffany Mitchell, right, shoots as Sparks forward Azura Stevens defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike, right, defends against the Minnesota Lynx’s Nikolina Milic during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Sparks’ Azura Stevens drives as the Minnesota Lynx’s Kayla McBride defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier, right, shoots as the Sparks’ Karlie Samuelson defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike shoots as Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24) defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Minnesota Lynx’s Tiffany Mitchell, top, and the Sparks’ Karlie Samuelson fall to the court after they collided while pursuing a loose ball during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Sparks’ Jasmine Thomas drives as the Minnesota Lynx’s Napheesa Collier defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Minnesota Lynx guard Tiffany Mitchell, right, shoots as Sparks forward Chiney Ogwumike defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Sparks’ Jasmine Thomas (15) and the Minnesota Lynx’s Napheesa Collier, right, go after a loose ball during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier, left, shoots as Sparks forward Azura Stevens defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike, right, shoots as Minnesota Lynx forward Dorka Juhasz defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Minnesota Lynx guard Tiffany Mitchell, right, and the Sparks’ Karlie Samuelson chase after a loose ball during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Minnesota Lynx guard Rachel Banham, left, tries to pass while under pressure from Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier shoots as the Sparks’ Karlie Samuelson (44) defends during the first half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Sparks’ Dearica Hamby, bottom, and the Minnesota Lynx’s Napheesa Collier vie for a rebound during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Minnesota Lynx’s Lindsay Allen drives to the basket as the Sparks’ Dearica Hamby defends during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike passes the ball as the Minnesota Lynx’s Napheesa Collier defends during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Minnesota Lynx’s Lindsay Allen, left, is fouled by the Sparks’ Jordin Canada during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Sparks point guard Jordin Canada, left, and the Minnesota Lynx’s Tiffany Mitchell chase after a loose ball during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Minnesota Lynx’s Napheesa Collier, left, and Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike, right, vie for the ball during the fourth quarter on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. The Lynx won, 67-61. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Minnesota Lynx’s Kayla McBride goes up for a shot as the Sparks’ Karlie Samuelson defends during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Sparks forward Chiney Ogwumike, left, shoots as Minnesota Lynx forward Bridget Carleton defends during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Minnesota Lynx forward Nikolina Milic shoots as Sparks forward Dearica Hamby, left, defends during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Sparks forward Dearica Hamby, left, shoots as Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier defends during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Sparks forward Chiney Ogwumike, center, and Minnesota Lynx forward Nikolina Milic, right, go after a loose ball as forward Napheesa Collier watches during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Sparks forward Dearica Hamby, left, has the ball knocked from her hands by Minnesota Lynx forward Nikolina Milic during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Minnesota Lynx guard Kayla McBride, left, shoots as the Sparks’ Karlie Samuelson defends during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Sparks guard Jordin Canada, right, shoots as Minnesota Lynx guard Tiffany Mitchell defends during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Minnesota Lynx guard Lindsay Allen, right, shoots as Sparks forward Dearica Hamby, second from right, defends while forward Chiney Ogwumike, left, and forward Napheesa Collier watch during the second half on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
The Minnesota Lynx’s Tiffany Mitchell, right, steals the ball from Sparks point guard Jordin Canada late in the fourth quarter to help the Lynx clinch a victory on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Actress Aubrey Plaza was on hand for the Sparks’ game against the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
LOS ANGELES — Nneka Ogwumike had 20 points and nine rebounds, but the Sparks lost to the Minnesota Lynx, 67-61, on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena, their third loss to the Lynx in a 10-day stretch.
The Sparks will host back-to-back games against the Dallas Wings on Friday and Sunday but Ogwumike said it is appropriate for the team to contemplate what went wrong against Minnesota.
“People are still dwelling on this loss,” Ogwumike said. “There were mistakes made by competitors in (our) locker room that aren’t happy with how it ended so I think it’s okay to sit with that. It’s okay to have that type of passion for the game and then Thursday we’re going to turn back around and get ready for Dallas.”
Nneka Ogwumike said it’s okay for the Los Angeles Sparks (5-7) to sit with their 67-61 loss to the Minnesota Lynx (4-8) before turning the page to back-to-back home games against the Dallas Wings on Friday and Sunday. #WNBATwitter#WNBApic.twitter.com/EVcj80N3QX
I’m breaking down the LA Sparks 67-61 loss to the Minnesota Lynx, which was their third loss to the Lynx in a 10-day stretch. Nneka Ogwumike led Sparks with 20 points and 9 rebounds. However, Napheesa Collier was the star of the night, finishing with 26 points and 14 rebounds. pic.twitter.com/zieO5cRouP
Ogwumike scored 11 of her team-high 20 points in the first quarter. Sparks point guard Jordin Canada added 10 points, five rebounds and five assists, joining Ogwumike as the only other Spark to score in double figures on a night when they committed 17 turnovers, and shot 37.1% from the field.
The Sparks (5-7) have dropped the first three games of their five-game homestand and four of their last five games overall, which includes the three against Minnesota, all by six points or less.
“We didn’t execute all game,” Sparks coach Curt Miller said.
Minnesota (4-8) was led by forward Napheesa Collier, who finished with a double-double with 26 points and 14 rebounds and three steals. Bridget Carleton scored all 14 of her points after halftime. Linsday Allen finished with five points and a game-high eight assists off the bench for the Lynx.
A 3-pointer by Canada put the Sparks ahead 52-49 with 8:51 left, but consecutive 3-pointers by Carleton gave Minnesota a 55-54 lead with 7:39 left. The Sparks stayed close until the end and were still down by just one after a fast-break layup by Rae Burrell pulled them within 62-61 with 2:47 remaining.
“I feel like that’s one of my things for this team is to bring the energy not only on the court but in the locker room,” said Burrell, who finished with seven points in eight minutes off the bench. “Just being that spark off the bench and doing whatever the team needs me to do at that time. They were able to get me in good positions to score and I was able to finish.”
Collier sank a jumper from the free-throw line, following an offensive rebound, to give Minnesota a 64-61 lead with 1:26 left, then the Sparks were done in by their final turnover of the night.
Still trailing by three, the Sparks called a timeout with 24.1 seconds left to set up an offensive play. Tiffany Mitchell intercepted a pass for her fifth steal of the night and raced the other way, forcing the Sparks to foul. Collier then made one of two free throws to give the Lynx a 65-61 lead with 8.7 seconds remaining.
Before tipoff, Miller said the game would come down to execution.
“A win against a smart team like Minnesota would give us so much confidence that we can compete against the best teams with the most talent but also smart teams that are execution teams,” Miller said.
Sparks head coach Curt Miller said the team that executes is going to win the Lynx at Sparks game. Miller explains what it would mean for the Sparks to win Tuesday’s game, which is the third time both teams have played each other in 10 days. #WNBATwitter#WNBApic.twitter.com/dg9CNB0OAK
The Sparks led by eight points early behind Ogwumike’s strong start but trailed the Lynx 19-18 at the end of the first quarter.
Burrell, who is currently on a temporary hardship contract, added five points in five minutes off the bench in the second quarter to help the Sparks through a scoring drought and to a 33-32 halftime lead. The Sparks shot 42.3% from the field in the first half, but they held the Lynx to 40.6% overall and a 1-for-10 showing 3-point range in the first 20 minutes.
Ogwumike’s three-point play tied the score at 40-all with 5:07 left in the third quarter.
A 3-pointer by Karlie Samuelson, who started at shooting guard for Lexie Brown, who missed her third straight game with a non-COVID illness, put the Sparks ahead 49-47 with 46 seconds left in the third quarter.
Collier grabbed her 10th rebound of the game and tipped the ball in with less than a second to go to tie the score at 49-all, heading into the fourth quarter.
Before the game, Sparks forward Azurá Stevens and rookie guard Zia Cooke also knew the contest was likely to come down to defense.
“We can sit here and talk about offense all day but defense wins games,” Stevens said.
“We have to lock into defensive strategies, making sure we’re doing the little things. We have to close out games, that’s something that we really have to lock into doing,” Cooke added.
The teams meet once more this season – on July 20 in Minnesota, the Sparks’ first game after the WNBA All-Star break.
Azurá Stevens and Zia Cooke on playing the Minnesota Lynx for the third time in 10 days. pic.twitter.com/fxY79CLurW
