Los Angeles SparksvsNew York Liberty
LA 81/NY 85
Things to say
New York Liberty beat the Los Angeles Sparks 85-81 at Barclays Center.
01
opener
Liberty held on 85-81 at home. Tighter than it should've been. LA hung around all night.
02
key player
Sabrina Ionescu led NY with 20, but Jonquel Jones was the story with 18 boards. She ate them up on the glass.
03
hot take
New York wins, but that's a team that can't put anybody away. They let a 12-21 squad breathe way too long.
04
deep cut
Rae Burrell dropped 28 in a losing effort. Sparks lose and their best bucket-getter goes off. Nobody's talking about that.
05
exit
Liberty are rolling toward the playoffs though. That's the game to watch.
The recap
Liberty grinded out an 85-81 win at home over the Sparks, and it was closer than the standings had any right to make it. Sabrina Ionescu led New York with 20, but the real story was Jonquel Jones cleaning the glass with 18 boards and giving LA nothing easy in the paint.
Rae Burrell was a one-woman wrecking crew for the Sparks with 28, keeping them within striking distance all night, but she didn't have enough help. New York made the plays down the stretch, and LA took another close L to fall to 12-21.