Brown scores 26, Sparks get 2nd win over Mercury
Lexie Brown scored 26 points, Nneka Ogwumike had 21 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, and the Los Angeles Sparks beat the Phoenix Mercury 99-93 in overtime on Friday night.
Brown drilled her third 3-pointer of the game with 1:03 left in overtime to extend Los Angeles’ lead to 95-91. Phoenix tried to get it to Diana Taurasi, but Jordin Canada intercepted the pass and raced the other way for a layup and a six-point lead with 42.1 left.
Canada finished with 16 points and five assists for Los Angeles (2-2), which also beat Phoenix in a season opener. Layshia Clarendon added 11 points. The Sparks return home to host Seattle on Saturday.
Brittney Griner had 24 points and 11 rebounds for Phoenix (1-3). Taurasi and Sophie Cunningham each added 19 points.
Taurasi sank a baseline jumper for an 84-81 lead with 1:26 left, but Canada tied it at the other end on a 3-pointer. After both teams came up empty on offense, Griner was fouled with 21.2 left and she made two free throws.
Brown curled off a double screen at the top of the arc and used a hesitation move to get into the lane for a layup to tie it at 86-all with 12.9 seconds left. After a timeout, Phoenix struggled to get into its offense and Sug Sutton was long on a contested 3-pointer at the buzzer to send it to overtime.
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