Sparks put out Fire with season-best defensive performance
Los Angeles allowed 29 second-half points.
LOS ANGELES -- It turns out that the Los Angeles Sparks can indeed play some defense after all.
Behind a second-half defensive surge that saw Los Angeles hold the Portland Fire (6-7) to just 29 points, the Sparks enjoyed an 89-72 win, snapping a three-game losing streak and improving to 5-6.
The Sparks, who came into Sunday’s game with the worst defense in the entire WNBA, proved that sometimes a little elbow grease and some tenacity on that end of the floor can help lead the way to a positive result.
“I just think that we’ve had a lot of conversations over the last couple of days on pride,” Sparks guard Kelsey Plum said after the win. Plum finished with 16 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds, plus 3 steals, in 35 minutes.
“I get it, I’m a leader on this team, and I always play hard. I play hard all the time. I think, for me, I’m just going to continue to do that. I was really proud. I thought a lot of people didn’t leave gas in the tank. They didn’t reserve themselves for the offensive end. They stepped up, and that’s what we have to have every game.”
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