Kamilla Cardoso scored 12 of her career-high 27 points in the fourth quarter and the Chicago Sky rallied for a 97-86 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday night in a matchup of struggling teams.
The Sky snapped a three-game losing streak after falling behind late in the first half. Chicago (4-10) outscored the Sparks thanks to Cardoso, who made 10 of 15 shots, including her first 3-pointer, before joining the Brazilian national team for the FIBA Americup tournament.
Angel Reese added 18 points and 17 rebounds for her eighth double-double as Chicago controlled the glass by a 36-27 margin. Reese also contributed six assists and four steals
Ariel Atkins contributed 13 points and five assists as Chicago shot 50 percent in the final three quarters and 44.6 percent overall.
Azura Stevens led the Sparks (4-11) with 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Kelsey Plum added 20 but shot 6-of-17 and missed all six 3-point attempts as the Sparks shot 43.7 percent in the final three quarters after making 11 of their first 17 shots.
Los Angeles missed 19 of 26 3-point tries and committed 17 turnovers in their fourth straight loss.
Stevens scored 11 points as the Sparks made their first six shots, shooting nearly 65 percent in the first quarter for a 29-17 lead. Reese’s basket off a Los Angeles turnover moved the Sky within 31-28 early in the second, and with 6:43 remaining, Stevens sank a 3 for a 39-30 lead.
Los Angeles took a 14-point lead on a hoop by Dearica Hamby with 2:44 before settling for a 48-42 lead at halftime.
Cardoso’s 3-pointer cut Chicago’s deficit to 51-49 with 7:58 remaining and Reese’s 3-point play put the Sky within 61-60 nearly four minutes later. The Sky forged a 65-65 tie when Rebecca Allen sank a 3 with 2:10 left and Plum’s layup gave the Sparks a 69-67 lead into the fourth.
Cardoso’s layup put Chicago ahead for the first time at 74-72 with 7:23 left, and her 3-point play made it 77-72 a little over a minute later. Chicago kept surging ahead. Rachel Banham hit a 3 to make it 84-76 with 4:21 left, and Cardoso’s layup off a bounce pass from Atkins made it 90-81 with 87 seconds left to clinch it.
–Field Level Media
