Sparks beat depleted Lynx in season finale to end 8-game skid
Sparks beat depleted Lynx in season finale to end 8-game skid
Dearica Hamby scores 20 points, Rickea Jackson adds 19 and the last-place Sparks close the season with a 68-51 road win against playoff-bound Minnesota, which rested several key players.
The Sparks Azura Stevens handles the ball as the Minnesota Lynx’s Bridget Carleton defends during the first half on Thursday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
The Sparks’ Li Yueru, left, and Kia Nurse slaps hands after a play during the first half of their game against the Minnesota Lynx on Thursday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
The Minnesota Lynx’s Myisha Hines-Allen loses control of the ball during the first half of their game against the Sparks on Thursday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
Sparks rookie Rickea Jackson shoots from outside during the first half of their game against the Minnesota Lynx on Thursday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
The Minnesota Lynx’s Alissa Pili drives as the Sparks’ Li Yueru defends during the first half on Thursday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
Sparks rookie Rickea Jackson gets to the basket for a layup as the Minnesota Lynx’s Diamond Miller (1) defends during the first half on Thursday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
The Minnesota Lynx’s Natisha Hiedeman drives as the Sparks’ Crystal Dangerfield (14) defends during the first half on Thursday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
Sparks rookie Rickea Jackson looks to pass the ball as the Minnesota Lynx’s Myisha Hines-Allen defends during the second half on Thursday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
The Minnesota Lynx’s Natisha Hiedeman, left, reacts as she huddles with teammates Courtney Williams, right, and Myisha Hines-Allen after a play during the first half of their game against the Sparks on Thursday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
Sparks forward Dearica Hamby, left, tries to poke the ball away from the Minnesota Lynx’s Myisha Hines-Allen during the second half on Thursday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
Sparks forward Dearica Hamby (5) blocks a shot by the Minnesota Lynx’s Myisha Hines-Allen during the second half on Thursday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
The Minnesota Lynx’s Natisha Hiedeman shoots as Sparks rookie Rickea Jackson, left, defends during the first half on Thursday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
Sparks forward Dearica Hamby drives to the basket for a layup as the Minnesota Lynx’s Alissa Pili defends during the second half on Thursday night in Minneapolis. Hamby had 20 points and seven rebounds as the Sparks closed their season with a 68-51 win. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
Sparks forward Dearica Hamby, left, defends the Minnesota Lynx’s Alanna Smith during the first half on Thursday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
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The Sparks Azura Stevens handles the ball as the Minnesota Lynx’s Bridget Carleton defends during the first half on Thursday night in Minneapolis. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS — A long slog of a season ended on a bright note for the Sparks.
Dearica Hamby scored 20 points, Rickea Jackson added 19 and the last-place Sparks closed the WNBA season with a 68-51 victory over the playoff-bound Minnesota Lynx on Thursday night.
The Sparks (8-32) ended their eight-game losing streak and stopped Minnesota’s seven-game winning streak.
The second-seeded Lynx (30-10), who had nothing to play for and will be at home to begin a best-of-three first-round series against seventh-seeded Phoenix on Sunday afternoon, opted to rest All-Star Napheesa Collier and 3-point sharpshooter Kayla McBride.
Kia Nurse added 12 points for the Sparks and Odyssey Sims had nine assists. Hamby, who shot 8 for 13 from the field, added seven rebounds, three assists and three steals to her point total. Jackson, who shot 7 for 16 (3 for 8 from 3-point range), added eight rebounds and two blocked shots.
Minus two key cogs, the Lynx had their worst offensive output of the season. None of their players scored in double figures as they shot 28.6% (16 for 56) from the field and had 17 turnovers. Diamond Miller and Alissa Pili led the way with eight while Natisha Hiedeman had seven and Myisha Hines-Allen, Bridget Carleton, Alanna Smith and Courtney Williams all had six.
The Sparks took the lead early and kept it. They had a 16-point lead in the first half, but settled for a 38-30 advantage at the break.
It was 53-44 heading into the fourth quarter. Williams completed a four-point play with 7:39 remaining to pull Minnesota within 53-48 but the visitors scored the next 13 points for a 66-48 lead with less than three minutes remaining. Nurse had three of her four 3-pointers during the surge and Rae Burrell added another.
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