Nneka Ogwumike scores 27 points in double-double to lead Sparks past Storm
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Nneka Ogwumike had 27 points and 14 rebounds, Layshia Clarendon contributed 16 points, six assists and three steals, and the Sparks beat the Seattle Storm 92-85 on Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena.
Seattle (0-4) is off to its worst start since it lost four in a row in its inaugural season in 2000.
Jewell Loyd hit a three-pointer that gave the Storm a two-point lead with 3:36 left in the third quarter, but the Sparks scored 17 of the next 23 points to make it 72-61 — Los Angeles’ biggest lead of the game. Lexie Brown capped the spurt with a three-pointer early in the fourth quarter.
Loyd scored 16 points in the fourth quarter, and Jade Melbourne’s three-pointer — which Loyd assisted on — trimmed Seattle’s deficit to 86-82 with 1:42 remaining, but the Storm got no closer.
Lexie Brown scored 26 points, Nneka Ogwumike had 21 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, and the Sparks defeated the host Mercury 99-93 in overtime.
Chiney Ogwumike contributed 15 points and Brown scored 14 for the Sparks (3-2). Jordin Canada had nine points, seven assists and four steals.
Loyd tied her career high with eight three-pointers and finished with 37 points for Seattle, one shy of her career best. Ezi Magbegor had 14 points, nine rebounds and three blocks.
Seattle hit 13 three-pointers but committed 16 turnovers, which the Sparks converted into 17 points. The Sparks outscored the Storm 23-12 from the free-throw line on 11 more attempts — 27.
