Sparks trounce Mystics for first back-to-back wins of season

Dearica Hamby poured in 26 points and Rickea Jackson tallied 22 as the Los Angeles Sparks trounced the visiting Washington Mystics 99-80 on Tuesday night, winning back-to-back games for the first time this season.

Kelsey Plum racked up 20 points for the Sparks in the final game before the All-Star break for both teams. Azura Stevens, who collected a team-high eight rebounds, added 15 points and joined Plum with three 3-pointers. Julie Allemand distributed 10 assists while committing only one turnover.

Hamby, a veteran post player, shot 10-for-19 from the floor, while Jackson was 9-for-13. The Sparks (8-14) shot 53.5 percent from the floor in posting their third homecourt victory of the season.

Los Angeles led by as many as 27 points in the second half after building a 59-34 halftime advantage. The Sparks notched a season-high point total, going above the 90-point mark for the fifth time.

Sharika Austin's 16 points and Sug Sutton's 14 points pace the Mystics (11-11), who were aiming to rack up their first four-game winning streak of the season. Aaliyah Edwards chipped in with 13 points off the bench.

Washington had been in a bunch of close games, but this one got away from the Mystics in the first half.

Los Angeles ended the half on a 13-0 run, with Hamby scoring the final 10 of those points after Jackson's three-point play.

It was a huge second quarter for the Sparks, who scored 11 of the first 13 points of the period.

Washington shot 8-for-21 on 3-pointers for the game, with six players hitting at least one shot from beyond the arc. The Mystics were hurt by 17 turnovers and by managing to score only 12 points in the second quarter.

It marked the first matchup of back-to-back meetings between the teams, with the rematch next Tuesday.

--Field Level Media