Short-handed Sparks fall back to .500 with loss to Lynx

LOS ANGELES — A depleted Sparks team blew a 12-point first-half lead and lost to the Minnesota Lynx, 77-72, on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena.

Jordin Canada led the Sparks with a career-high 22 points, and Dearica Hamby added 14 points and nine rebounds.

Nneka Ogwumike, the Sparks’ leading scorer this season, struggled to find a rhythm, scoring just eight points on 2-for-9 shooting from the field to go with five rebounds and seven assists.

Napheesa Collier had 25 points and six rebounds to pace Minnesota.

The Lynx went on a 10-2 run to take a 63-57 lead early in the fourth quarter. With just under 50 seconds left, Ogwumike made a layup to bring the Sparks within two points at 74-72.

On the ensuing possession, Lynx forward Dorka Juhász was fouled on a layup attempt, but she made just one of two free throws. Ogwumike missed a two-point jumper with 23.5 seconds left and the Lynx iced the win with free throws.

The Sparks came into Friday night’s game with a litany of injuries. Four players were ruled out, which forced the Sparks to sign guard Destanni Henderson to an emergency hardship contract on Friday morning.

Despite the injuries, Coach Curt Miller said there were no excuses heading into the Sparks’ matchup with the Lynx.

“What we talked about is no one’s gonna feel sorry for us, we’re not the only ones in this league right now with a lengthy injury list and an injury report,” Miller said.

The Sparks’ first half was highlighted by one play in the second quarter.

With just over four minutes left in the half, Canada stole a pass near midcourt, but she missed the ensuing layup.

As the shot rimmed out of the basket, Canada tipped the ball with one hand to Ogwumike while down on the floor. Ogumike proceeded to throw a no-look pass to Hamby, who finished the layup and jolted the crowd in the arena.

The Sparks led 43-34 going into the halftime break.

The Sparks came out of the halftime break flat, allowing Minnesota to go on a 16-9 run to start the third quarter. The Sparks allowed the Lynx to shoot 62.5% from the field in the third quarter and went into the fourth trailing, 58-57.

The Sparks (5-5) will continue their homestand against the Connecticut Sun (8-3) on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. Minnesota (3-7) plays at Las Vegas on Sunday before returning to Los Angeles to face the Sparks again on Tuesday night.