(East Los Angeles, CA) July 6, 2022 [From The Editor’s Desk]: The 4th of July arrived with an explosion inside of Crypto.com Arena as the Sparks dropped their 3-point fireworks consistently and very accurately on their visiting opponents, the Phoenix Mercury, and their big Superstar “1-2” KO punch of Diana Taurasi and Skylar Diggins-Smith.

Coinciding with the nation’s situational awareness and acknowledgement of  Brittney Griner, who is still in detention in Russia, both teams supported this WNBA “match-up” as an initiative for her BG’s Heart & Sole Shoe Drive. Shoes collected at this game, and then for much of the Sparks current home-stand, will honor their support of BG42, with the acceptance of all shoe donations through the Sparks games up to July 18th.

[Game Summary]

{1st Qtr} The Sparks easily won the tip by Liz Cambage, fired away from the 3-point line, and with that shot, drew the first score from their 3-point specialist and shooting guard, Lexie Brown. It would be a good sign for the Sparks coming into the game with the accomplishment of winning their 500th WNBA game last Friday, against the Dallas Wings.

The first period ended with a Phoenix lead of (20-18). For the Sparks, starters Jordin Canada, Liz Cambage, Captain, Nneka Ogwumike, and Lexie Brown had a very good start as each managed to score points. For the Mercury, it was a good blend of running, shooting, and free throw shooting. They showed a nice variety  of veteran and young players.

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[Photo Gallery]: Erik Sarni, East L.A. Sports Scene Productions, LLC &  EastLASportsScene.Com

{2nd Qtr} Cambage was offensively inclined and began to look for her shots and put-backs. She did just that for a Sparks (29-26) lead at the (6:30) mark. Nneka then hit a mid-range  jumper followed by Katie Lou Samuelson’s pair of free throws for a (31-26) lead. She was on a scoring in bunches pace and then drilled a triple, making it (36-26). She came back with 2 more free throws for a (38-28) lead with just (3:30) left in the half. After a long Media Time-out, N. Ogwumike completed an “And 1” for (41-30). Diggins-Smith then scored 3 on her “And 1.”  Phoenix then caught up and trailed by just four with under 1 minute (41-37) as yet another 3-Mercury pointer made it (41-40). With (01.2) seconds left, Canada was fouled and made 1 free throw to end the half’s scoring.

(HALFTIME SCORE): Sparks  42   Mercury  40

{3rd Qtr} At the (9:33) mark and on the Mercury’s first possession, a “simultaneous” whistle foul was called on Samuelson for pushing, and in tandem with a made field goal. After a Review was called by lead referee, Cheryl Flores, it was ruled that the foul occurred first, nullifying the basket. Then Cambage made a shot from the key, good for a (44-43) lead. But another Digigins-Smith 3-pointer gave them back the lead at (46-44). Cambage returned the favor  for a tie at (46-46) with (7:45) left in the period. Then the crowd was treated to a great and successful 3-point shooting exchange by Brown and Diggins-Smith to tie the score at (49-49) apiece. N. Ogumike added a free throw for a (50-49) advantage.

A 5:00 minute Media Time-out came at the (4:56) mark. The lead changed to (52-50) in favor of the Mercury at the (3:00) mark. N. Ogumike then made two free throws for a (52-52) score with (1:45) left. N.Ogumike scored on a move underneath to tie at (54-54). Closing out the quarter was a Cambage “dribble drive” for 2, moving the last score of the period to (56-54) Sparks.

 {4th Qtr)} Cambage led off the scoring with an “And 1” put-back, (59-54). N. Ogwumike followed with a lay-up for (61-54) lead. Phoenix quickly called a Time-out at (8:40). Good Time-out call as the Mercury answered back with a couple of 3-balls closing to (61-60). The Sparks came back with a Brown 3-pointer for a (64-60) margin. N. Ogumike’s jumper moved it to (66-60) at the (7:00) minute mark. A Taurasi runner in the key changed it to (66-62). Samuelson then reappeared with a bucket  for (68-64). Phoenix hit for two closing it to (68-66), but another N. Ogumike “step-thru” move made it (70-66), Sparks. Taurasi answered that for (70-68). Then Diggins-Smith got a putback to tie at (70-70). A Time-out was called by Coach Williams to talk things over at (3:33) remaining.

When play resumed, a technical Free Throw by Samuelson on a Mercury illegal “D” call made it, (71-70). Brown then stepped up big and calmly hit a huge 3-pointer for a (74-70) lead with (2:30). The Mercury came back with a Diggins-Smith “And 1” moving the score to (74-73). Then as time wound down to the finish, Canada was fouled-in-the-act-of-shooting with (1:39) and made just 1 for a (75-73) margin. N. Ogwumike was then fouled underneath after a Phoenix turnover but missed both. On the next Sparks possession Canada was fouled again with just (:35.3) left and made 2, for a  (77-73) lead. Taurasi then drove and was fouled on her shot, making 2 free throws with (:29.7) left, (77-75).  N. Ogwumike took a shot but missed. Phoenix got the rebound and called their final Time-out with (:09.6) left. Taurasi looked for her “patented and golden” jump shot from the left corner, but although she was unguarded, shot an “air ball” on her attempt. N. Ogwumike got the board and was fouled. She made the first for the (78-75) winning score. With (:04.4) seconds left, the Mercury could not cash in on their desperate half-court shot. The Holiday crowd pleasing game was then over with the Sparks notching their 3rd victory in a row,

(FINAL SCORE): Sparks  78  Mercury  75 (ATTENDANCE): 3,340

(OF SIGNIFICANCE): All five Sparks starters registered “double figures” in scoring with N. Ogwuike going for 23, Cambage for 19, Brown had 14, with Canada and Samuelson scoring 10 each. For the Mercury, Diggins-Smith led the way with 23, followed by Taurasi with 13 and Peddy and Cunningham putting in 10 each.

(Next Up): Seattle Storm, Thursday,  7/7 at 7:30 PM. Watch on Spectrum SportsNet and Twitter.