For the fourth game in a row, the Sparks found themselves in a barn-burner down the stretch, locked in a one-possession game in a critical matchup for playoff positioning.
They turned to their defense, limiting the Liberty to 11 points in the fourth quarter, including 10 turnovers compared to one made field goal. The Sparks used a small lineup for the final five minutes, using their speed and collective IQ to shut down the New York offense and take the 86-83 win on the road, punctuated by a Brittney Sykes block on Sabrina Ionescu at the buzzer.
“We’re confident on that end that we can get the stops that we need to, whether we’re ahead or behind, we can get to stops that will still put us in position to secure the game,” coach Derek Fisher said postgame.