The Los Angeles Sparks secured a thrilling 98-93 overtime victory against the Las Vegas Aces on Friday night, breaking an eight-game losing streak. Despite the Aces making a strong comeback, the Sparks managed to force overtime with a stellar performance. Dearica Hamby led the Sparks with 28 points, 14 rebounds, and four assists, while Aari McDonald added a career-high 23 points.
The game was a back-and-forth affair with 15 ties and 17 lead changes before the Sparks ultimately emerged victorious. The win marked only the Sparks’ fifth victory of the season. Hamby, who won a championship with the Aces before her trade to the Sparks, had extra motivation to perform well against her former team, especially after a discrimination lawsuit against the franchise resulted in consequences for the Aces.
Stephanie Talbot’s crucial contributions in the starting lineup were a key factor in the Sparks’ success, according to her teammates. The game remained close throughout overtime, with Layshia Clarendon and McDonald hitting crucial free throws to secure the win for the Sparks. Despite the Aces’ efforts, the Sparks showed resilience and composure to come out on top.
Sparks coach Curt Miller commended his team’s toughness and grittiness, emphasizing the importance of putting a young team in challenging situations to help them grow. The Sparks will look to build on this victory as they continue their homestand against the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday at Crypto.com Arena.
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