Sparks Hold Off Mystics, Win Third Straight in 92-87 Thriller
- Eric Liu
- May 29
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 2
The Los Angeles Sparks continued their recent surge on Friday night, holding off a late Washington Mystics comeback to secure a 92-87 victory and extend their winning streak to three games.
Los Angeles relied on a balanced offensive attack and several clutch performances down the stretch, led by Erica Wheeler’s season-high 21 points and Nneka Ogwumike’s double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds.
The opening quarter featured a fast-paced offensive battle as both teams traded baskets. Washington’s Shakira Austin set the tone early, scoring seven points in the period, while Wheeler helped keep the Sparks within striking distance. Ogwumike also delivered a historic moment in the first quarter, converting a hook shot to become the franchise’s all-time leader in field goals made!
The Sparks found their footing in the second quarter despite a sluggish start from both sides. Cameron Brink provided a spark off the bench, scoring nine first-half points and helping Los Angeles erase the deficit. By halftime, the Sparks had built a five-point advantage.
Washington came out aggressively after the break behind Austin and rookie forward Kiki Iriafen, but Los Angeles continued to respond. Dearica Hamby played a key role during the third quarter, scoring timely baskets while facilitating the offense as the Sparks maintained control. A late three-pointer from Wheeler pushed the lead to eight entering the final period. Austin spearheaded a fourth-quarter rally, scoring five crucial points late to erase the deficit and tie the game in the closing minutes.
But when Washington appeared poised to complete the comeback, Ogwumike delivered the biggest shot of the night, drilling a clutch three-pointer with less than two minutes remaining to put Los Angeles back in front. Wheeler then took over in the final moments. The veteran guard scored on a driving layup and calmly knocked down four consecutive free throws in the final 30 seconds to seal the victory.
Despite a strong push from Washington, including late scoring from Sonia Citron and Austin, the Mystics were unable to overcome Los Angeles’ execution in crunch time.
