For three quarters, the Tulsa Shock went toe-to-toe with the Los Angeles Sparks, but the visitors held on for a 74-70 victory at the BOK Center on Friday.
There were nine lead changes. Both teams entered the fourth quarter shooting over 40 percent, and the Shock held a 53-52 lead. But the Shock's offense went cold, allowing the Sparks (22-10) to hold on.
Over the final 10 minutes, Tulsa (10-21) went 1 of 12 from the 3-point line and 6 of 25 from the field for a final game percentage of 34.2. It shot just 18.2 from the 3-point line.
"We went through a period where we started settling for jump shots and did not drive and get it inside," Shock coach Gary Kloppenburg said. "That is fine if they are going down, but we missed four or five in a row."
Almost four minutes elapsed in the fourth quarter before either team scored a point. The Sparks then scored four points before Glory Johnson connected, pulling the Shock within one at 56-55. Courtney Paris, who had 10 points and nine rebounds, pulled the Shock to 70-68 with 20 seconds left. Nicole Powell scored Tulsa's final points for a 72-70 Sparks margin. But the Sparks made 13 of 14 free throws over the final 10 minutes, the last two with 4.2 seconds left, to seal the game.
Candace Parker put up 20 points to lead the Sparks. Johnson led the way for the Shock with 19 and Riquna Williams added 18.
"We played hard and forced 17 turnovers and stayed on the boards with them," Kloppenburg said. "I just think we did not shoot the ball well. We were the fourth-best 3-point shooting team in the league. But against a good shooting team like this, we have to shoot in the 40s. We need to make more shots.
"I just thought we really battled. We fought and tried to hang in there at the end and got it down to two late with some chances to tie it up. It just did not happen. I am proud of their effort even though we struggled at the offensive end."
Johnson scored five points in the final quarter trying to bring life back to her team.
"It was tough," Johnson said. "We were trying to play great defense. We were scoring and they were scoring back-to-back. We knew we had to keep our one-point lead and we kept it for nearly four minutes. It was the outside shooting we were settling with and they were getting to the free-throw line."
Parker put up 10 first-quarter points to take the Sparks to a 21-14 lead.
The Shock travel to San Antonio for a 3:30 p.m. game Sunday against the Silver Stars before returning home on Thursday to host the Seattle Storm in their final home game of the season.
Sparks 74, Shock 70
| Los Angeles |
21 |
16 |
15 |
22 |
- |
74 |
| Tulsa |
14 |
25 |
14 |
17 |
- |
70 |
LOS ANGELES: Beard 4-6 2-2 10, Ogwumike 6-14 4-5 16, Parker 9-16 2-2 20, Toliver 4-13 0-0 11, Harding 2-6 7-8 11, Coleman 0-2 0-0 0, Lavender 0-4 0-0 0, O'Hea 0-1 0-0 0, Mathies 2-4 2-2 6. Totals 27-66 17-19 74.
TULSA: Wiggins 2-10 4-6 10, Johnson 7-12 5-6 19, Jackson-Jones 1-4 1-2 3, Williams 6-17 4-4 18, Diggins 1-10 4-4 6, Goodrich 1-2 0-0 2, Powell 1-2 0-0 2, Paris 5-8 0-0 10, Lacy 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 24-69 18-22 70.
3-point goals: Los Angeles 3-9 (Toliver 3-5, Beard 0-1, O'Hea 0-1, Coleman 0-2), Tulsa 4-22 (Williams 2-7, Wiggins 2-8, Johnson 0-1, Powell 0-1, Diggins 0-2, Lacy 0-3).
Fouled out: Toliver.
Rebounds: Los Angeles 47 (Parker 9), Tulsa 43 (Paris 9).
Assists: Los Angeles 17 (Harding 10), Tulsa 10 (Diggins 3).
Total fouls: Los Angeles 19, Tulsa 19.
A: 6,704 (7,479).
WNBA
Up next
At San Antonio
3:30 p.m. Sunday
Original Print Headline: Parker, Sparks hold off Shock
Pro W Basketball (WNBA)
9 p.m. Saturday
Basketball Australia manager Tamara Sheppard was in town to meet with Shock officials Thursday and discuss the responsibilities of Australian national players in international competition the next three years.
