The saying usually goes, “play for four quarters,” and that is exactly what the Phoenix Mercury did in their return to the valley to face the Los Angeles Sparks. The only trouble is that the game required an extra period to decide an outcome, and the Merc were not up to finishing the deal.
The team has been in a whirlwind of trouble so far this new season. After coming off a Finals appearance last year, the season has gone totally in the opposite direction. Trying to figure out the issues that are plaguing this team is Head Coach Nate Tibbetts, as he has tried just about every combination he could think of, and the results are still coming up losses.
The return to home seemed like it had energized the women in purple, as they stood toe-to-toe with the better team, the Sparks. The game went down to the wire with an almost exciting finish. Center Natasha Mack hit a big-time jumpshot from about 8 feet out that gave the Mercury a 2-point lead with 12 seconds to play in regulation. The Sparks star guard Kelsey Plum, dropped 43 points and led the charge back to tie the game on a layup, leaving only 1.6 seconds in regulation.
The endbound play was set up nicely, but a brief bobble of the ball by Mack changed her shot to a rushed shot, and she came up just short off the rim with a chance to win a big, much-needed win for a struggling team. The ball did not go in, and the game went to overtime.
The team’s momentum shifted, and they could not rebound enough to compete in overtime. The Sparks went on an 8-0 run and outscored the Mercury in overtime 13-4, capping a thrilling 111-102 Sparks victory.
The most captivating scene was at the end of the game, when Kelsey Plum met Kaleah Copper around midcourt. After waiting for Copper to tie her shoe, the two star players embraced, exchanged some very kind words, and shared a dap as they went their separate ways. This was a duel between the two as both players hit the 40-plus mark. Copper led the Mercury with a season high of 41, and Plum finished with the highest score, leading all scores with 43.
This one was fun to watch, but you just hoped the Merc could feel what last year felt like to be in a big game and showout. They did a good job for four quarters, but just lost their steam in overtime. The team’s two stars, Alyssa Thomas and Kaleah Copper, combined for seven turnovers in critical moments of the game. That may have been the difference in the game as the team had a total of 15 turnovers, giving up 15 points, which is not too high, but in the crucial points of when a game is in the balance makes the difference in winning and losing.
After the game in the press conference, you can see th efrustration of Coppers face as she gutted through a tough media session with Mack sitting next to her. “It was a mix of things – the plays Nate (Coach Tibbetts) drew up, seeing the floor, and our spacing was great. We were all in the right spots, so I just tried to make plays. I’ve been overthinking the past few games. I just want to win, hoop, and make the right plays, hit shots, take the easy ones, and not overdo it.” when asked about her performance.
Mack added that:
“I’m very proud of her. I see the work she puts in every day, so this was bound to come. When she’s going off, it’s great for us. It’s great for the team. We feed off her energy. She’s one of our leaders, and we couldn’t do this without her.”
Copper’s career-high 41 points (16-of-30 FG / 6-of-14 3PT) to become the second player in franchise history to score 40+ points in a game, joining Diana Taurasi.
The Mercury will continue the home stand facing the Champs, the Aces on Wednesday night, and the Champs may be in a bad mood after sustaining a 30-point blowout to the Mercury at the start of the season in game one.
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