Kelsey Plum scored a career-high 43 points and made five 3-pointers as the Los Angeles Sparks lost a nine-point fourth-quarter lead but recovered to beat the host Phoenix Mercury 111-102 in overtime in a Commissioner’s Cup game Saturday.
Plum’s layup with 1.6 seconds remaining in regulation tied it at 98-98, and the Sparks (7-6, 3-2 in Commissioner’s Cup) scored the first eight points in overtime capped by Cameron Brink’s four-point play with 3:03 remaining.
Kahleah Copper scored a career-high 41 points and made a career-high six 3-pointers for the Mercury (4-11, 2-4), who had a chance to win at the end of regulation but Natasha Mack’s hurried jumper was off.
Rae Burrell had 16 of her career-high 24 points in the first half and Nneka Ogwumike had a double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds for the Sparks, who have won three straight.
The Sparks had a season high in points and made 15 of 34 3-pointers. Oqwumike made three threes and passed Tina Thompson for fourth in scoring in WNBA history with 7,499 points.
Mack had 11 points and 12 rebounds and Alyssa Thomas had 10 points and 12 assists for the Mercury, who have lost three straight and nine of 11.
Plum and Copper took over down the stretch for their respective teams. Plum scored 17 points in the fourth quarter and Copper had 13.
Copper made a layup to knot the game at 88-88 before Plum countered with a 17-footer for a 90-88 edge with 2:24 left.
Thomas’ shot jumped tied it at 90-90, and Lexi Held made a 3-pointer to cap an 11-4 run for a 93-90 Mercury lead with 1:33 remaining, a possession started when Mack blocked Plum’s short jumper.
Plum made two threes and Copper made one to level the game at 96 with 53 seconds left. Mack’s short jumper with 12.7 seconds left put the Mercury ahead before Plum tied it late.
The Sparks are 5-1 on the road and won their second straight in Phoenix after a 97-88 win on May 21.
–Field Level Media
