Sparks put together dominating effort in win over Liberty

  • Los Angeles Sparks guard Chelsea Gray (12) ties up New York Liberty guard Layshia Clarendon (7) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Bradenton, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

  • Los Angeles Sparks forward Candace Parker (3) backs in against New York Liberty guard Jocelyn Willoughby (13) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Bradenton, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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  • Los Angeles Sparks forward Candace Parker (3) drives against New York Liberty guard Jocelyn Willoughby (13) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Bradenton, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

  • New York Liberty guard Kia Nurse (5) falls out of bounds as she is guarded by Los Angeles Sparks’ Nneka Ogwumike (30) and Candace Parker (3) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Bradenton, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

  • Los Angeles Sparks guard Riquna Williams (2) shoots over New York Liberty guard Layshia Clarendon (7) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Bradenton, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

  • New York Liberty forward Kylee Shook (24) blocks a shot by Los Angeles Sparks guard Riquna Williams (2) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Bradenton, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

  • New York Liberty guard Layshia Clarendon drives against Los Angeles Sparks guard Chelsea Gray (12) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Bradenton, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

  • New York Liberty guard Kia Nurse (5) goes up for a shot over Los Angeles Sparks forward Candace Parker (3) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Bradenton, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

  • Los Angeles Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike (30) shoots over New York Liberty forward Kylee Shook (24) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Bradenton, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

  • Los Angeles Sparks guard Te’a Cooper (4) shoots in front of New York Liberty forward Leaonna Odom during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Bradenton, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

  • The Los Angeles Sparks tips off against the New York Liberty during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, in Bradenton, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

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Derek Fisher wanted the Sparks to get off to a fast, focused start in Tuesday’s game against the New York Liberty, and his team granted the head coach’s wish.

The Sparks walked away from the court at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, on Tuesday with their most lopsided win of the season, beating the Liberty 96-70.

Sure, New York (2-17) is the only team eliminated so far from playoff contention, but a blowout victory is a luxury for the Sparks, who had not won by double-digits since Aug. 15.

And it was thorough domination by Los Angeles (15-5), which only trailed once, by the score of 3-2.

The Sparks shot 54.4% from the floor. They won the rebounding battle 31-26 and forced New York into 17 turnovers.

Forward Nneka Ogwumike, in her second game since returning from a back injury, had 20 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Riquna Williams matched her point total with 20 while Kristine Anigwe added 14 off the bench.

Candace Parker added to her MVP resume before getting some rest. She went 6 of 10 from the field for 14 points while adding five rebounds and seven assists. She made her first three shots and had six assists before she missed an attempt.

One game removed from playing every second of the second half against Chicago, Parker checked out with her team up 20 and 1:23 left in the third quarter and did not have to return.

There were still some lapses in play for the Sparks. They opened up a 20-point lead in the second quarter, but the Liberty closed the first half on an 11-2 run. A Kia Nurse layup to start the third quarter made it a single-digit game.

But the Sparks didn’t let it escalate from there. With six minutes left in the third, Williams hit a 3-pointer off a dish from Ogwumike. After a Parker steal on the other end, Williams returned the favor by finding Ogwumike for a transition layup to push the lead back to 16.

The Sparks opened the game down two starting guards. Brittney Sykes (abdominal contusion) is day-to-day, while Sydney Wiese is expected to be out a week with a sprained ankle.

The rotation shrank again, though, in the opening minute.

The Sparks opened on offense with a give and go between Parker and Tierra Ruffin-Pratt, who finished with a layup. But on the ensuing defensive possession, Ruffin-Pratt injured her shoulder and signaled to be taken out of the game. She did not return.

 

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