Second-quarter barrage and 14 made threes carry Sparks past Portland 105-84

When the game stopped being even

The first quarter offered Portland enough evidence that this might stay uncomfortable for Los Angeles. The Fire briefly nudged ahead, and their best offense came from direct, uncomplicated pressure. Carla Leite got to the rim early, Serah Williams put Portland in front at 3:56 of the first, and Megan DiLeo kept the margin from stretching with two late layups. But even in that relatively tight stretch, the Sparks were already showing the shape of the night: Emma Cannon opened the perimeter scoring, Nneka Ogwumike scored inside, and Los Angeles closed the quarter ahead 28-26. Portland's largest lead all game was two, and that told the story almost as clearly as the scoreboard did.

The real break came after Frieda Buhner hit a three at 8:13 of the second quarter to trim the score to 31-29. From there until halftime, Los Angeles put together the sequence that decided the evening, outscoring Portland 29-12 over the final 8:13 of the half. Ariel Atkins converted a three-point play at 6:46, Rae Burrell stacked points with a three at 3:32 and free throws at 2:59, and the Sparks finished the half with backbreaking range shooting: Monique Akoa Makani hit from 25 feet with 37.6 seconds left, and Cannon buried a 27-footer with 3.3 seconds remaining for a 60-41 lead.

That stretch mattered because it was not just one player running hot. Los Angeles kept changing the source of the damage. Portland could survive one scorer for a few possessions; it could not survive a full-team wave of threes, free throws and clean finishes spread across the quarter. By halftime, the Fire were already chasing both the score and the shot-making gap.

Los Angeles won the arithmetic

Some games are decided by a superstar takeover. This one was decided by efficiency that kept arriving from several directions at once. The Sparks shot 53.2 percent from the field, drilled 14 of 29 from three-point range and made 25 of 29 free throws. They also recorded 24 assists on 33 made baskets, a strong sign that the offense was not living on isolated rescue possessions. Ogwumike led the way with 20 points, 12 rebounds and five assists without a turnover, while Burrell matched her with 20 points of her own. Atkins added 14 on 5-of-7 shooting, Cannon scored 10 in 13 minutes, and Chance Gray chipped in 11 with three made threes.

The outside shooting is what Portland never solved. Erica Wheeler went 3 for 4 from deep. Cannon made 2 of 4. Burrell hit 2 of 3. Gray knocked down 3 of 5. Even Ogwumike stepped out for a fourth-quarter three. Add it together and the Sparks built an advantage Portland's interior work could not erase.

That interior work was real, which is what makes the Fire's loss look less like a complete offensive collapse and more like a game they lost in specific areas. Portland scored 42 points in the paint, got 31 free-throw attempts and forced 18 points off Los Angeles turnovers. But the Fire went just 6 of 27 from three and made only 22 of 31 at the line. Against a team posting 105 with that kind of perimeter accuracy, those misses become expensive very quickly.

Leite kept pushing, but the answers kept coming

Portland's clearest bright spot was Leite, who finished with 23 points and five assists on 7-of-10 shooting. She kept finding ways to restart the offense when Los Angeles threatened to turn the game into a complete cruise. Her four-point sequence at 2:39 of the second quarter briefly interrupted the Sparks' surge. In the third, she kept attacking the lane, scoring on a drive at 8:29 and again through contact at 7:45. In the fourth, she produced another three-point play at 6:57. Portland needed exactly that kind of downhill persistence just to keep the margin from exploding further.

The problem for the Fire was that their useful bursts rarely lasted beyond the next Los Angeles possession or two. DiLeo opened the fourth-quarter scoring at 9:02; Gray answered with a three at 8:19. Charisma Osborne hit from 24 feet at 7:18; Burrell answered at 7:02. Leite then scored again at 6:57, only for Ogwumike to respond at 6:41 and then hit a 25-foot three at 6:17. That is the anatomy of a 24-point lead: not merely one long drought from the losing side, but repeated attempts to climb back met immediately by cleaner offense from the winner.

Osborne finished with 13 points, DiLeo had 11, and Emily Engstler added 10, so Portland was not empty behind Leite. Still, the Fire finished with 23 rebounds to Los Angeles' 29 and had 17 total turnovers. Their 17 assists on 28 made field goals were respectable, but not enough to offset the Sparks' balance or their own missed threes. Too much of Portland's good work came in patches rather than in a sustained run.

Our take: a loud win with useful warnings for both teams

Our take on Los Angeles is simple: this looked like a serious offensive performance, not just a lucky hot spell. Fourteen made threes, 53.2 percent shooting and 24 assists do not happen by accident, and Ogwumike's line was the steady center of it. But the Sparks should not ignore the sloppier parts. They still turned the ball over 16 times, allowed Portland 10 steals and conceded 18 points off turnovers. They also committed 26 fouls, along with a technical and a flagrant. On a night when the shots are not falling at this rate, those extra possessions and free points can make the game far tighter than this one became.

Our take on Portland is that there were working parts worth keeping. The Fire got to the paint for 42 points, and Leite repeatedly created pressure that led to scoring chances and free throws. That seems like a sensible base to keep leaning on. But two improvements stand out from this box score. First, Portland has to defend the arc with more consistency; Los Angeles got threes from the opening quarter through the final two minutes and finished 14 of 29 from deep. Second, the Fire have to cash in more of their own free points. Thirty-one free-throw attempts is useful offense. Twenty-two makes is a missed chance when the other side goes 25 of 29. Against a team scoring this efficiently, those margins are not details. They are the game.

Scoring moments

1. 1st Quarter · 9:03

   Emily Engstler makes 11-foot turnaround jump shot (Carla Leite assists)

2. 1st Quarter · 8:41

   Emma Cannon makes 24-foot three point jumper (Ariel Atkins assists)

3. 1st Quarter · 8:23

   Nneka Ogwumike makes running layup (Erica Wheeler assists)

4. 1st Quarter · 8:23

   Nneka Ogwumike makes free throw 1 of 1

5. 1st Quarter · 8:09

   Karlie Samuelson makes 23-foot three point jumper (Emily Engstler assists)

6. 1st Quarter · 7:52

   Emma Cannon makes free throw 1 of 2

7. 1st Quarter · 7:52

   Emma Cannon makes free throw 2 of 2

8. 1st Quarter · 7:41

   Carla Leite makes driving layup

9. 1st Quarter · 7:05

   Karlie Samuelson makes free throw 1 of 2

10. 1st Quarter · 7:05

    Karlie Samuelson makes free throw 2 of 2

11. 1st Quarter · 6:16

    Ariel Atkins makes 24-foot three pointer (Erica Wheeler assists)

12. 1st Quarter · 5:33

    Nneka Ogwumike makes 14-foot pullup jump shot (Emma Cannon assists)

13. 1st Quarter · 5:10

    Carla Leite makes 11-foot pullup jump shot

14. 1st Quarter · 5:10

    Carla Leite makes free throw 1 of 1

15. 1st Quarter · 5:00

    Jihyun Park makes 4-foot layup (Nneka Ogwumike assists)

16. 1st Quarter · 4:13

    Carla Leite makes 3-foot two point shot

17. 1st Quarter · 3:56

    Serah Williams makes running layup (Nyadiew Puoch assists)

18. 1st Quarter · 3:48

    Rae Burrell makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jihyun Park assists)

19. 1st Quarter · 2:21

    Charisma Osborne makes 12-foot driving floating jump shot

20. 1st Quarter · 2:21

    Charisma Osborne makes free throw 1 of 1

21. 1st Quarter · 2:03

    Tonie Morgan makes 25-foot three point jumper (Jihyun Park assists)

22. 1st Quarter · 1:38

    Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda makes free throw 1 of 2

23. 1st Quarter · 1:38

    Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda makes free throw 2 of 2

24. 1st Quarter · 1:16

    Karlie Samuelson makes 5-foot two point shot (Charisma Osborne assists)

25. 1st Quarter · 1:16

    Karlie Samuelson makes free throw 1 of 1

26. 1st Quarter · 1:09

    Monique Akoa Makani makes free throw 1 of 2

27. 1st Quarter · 1:09

    Monique Akoa Makani makes free throw 2 of 2

28. 1st Quarter · 57.8

    Megan DiLeo makes 2-foot layup (Carla Leite assists)

29. 1st Quarter · 47.3

    Chance Gray makes 22-foot three point jumper (Monique Akoa Makani assists)

30. 1st Quarter · 29.7

    Megan DiLeo makes layup (Emily Engstler assists)

31. 2nd Quarter · 9:06

    Erica Wheeler makes 26-foot three point jumper (Ariel Atkins assists)

32. 2nd Quarter · 8:13

    Frieda Buhner makes 23-foot three point jumper (Carla Leite assists)

33. 2nd Quarter · 7:54

    Emma Cannon makes free throw 1 of 2

34. 2nd Quarter · 7:54

    Emma Cannon makes free throw 2 of 2

35. 2nd Quarter · 6:56

    Megan DiLeo makes running layup (Karlie Samuelson assists)

36. 2nd Quarter · 6:46

    Ariel Atkins makes 3-foot driving floating jump shot

37. 2nd Quarter · 6:46

    Ariel Atkins makes free throw 1 of 1

38. 2nd Quarter · 5:59

    Nneka Ogwumike makes two point shot

39. 2nd Quarter · 5:33

    Rae Burrell makes two point shot

40. 2nd Quarter · 5:33

    Rae Burrell makes free throw 1 of 1

41. 2nd Quarter · 5:13

    Ariel Atkins makes running layup (Rae Burrell assists)

42. 2nd Quarter · 4:37

    Nneka Ogwumike makes 17-foot pullup jump shot (Shyanne Sellers assists)

43. 2nd Quarter · 4:13

    Nyadiew Puoch makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jordan Harrison assists)

44. 2nd Quarter · 3:32

    Rae Burrell makes 24-foot three pointer (Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda assists)

45. 2nd Quarter · 2:59

    Rae Burrell makes free throw 1 of 2

46. 2nd Quarter · 2:59

    Rae Burrell makes free throw 2 of 2

47. 2nd Quarter · 2:39

    Carla Leite makes 25-foot three pointer

48. 2nd Quarter · 2:39

    Carla Leite makes free throw 1 of 1

49. 2nd Quarter · 2:25

    Nyadiew Puoch makes running layup

50. 2nd Quarter · 2:04

    Rae Burrell makes free throw 1 of 2

51. 2nd Quarter · 2:04

    Rae Burrell makes free throw 2 of 2

52. 2nd Quarter · 1:50

    Carla Leite makes free throw 1 of 2

53. 2nd Quarter · 1:14

    Tonie Morgan makes two point shot

54. 2nd Quarter · 37.6

    Monique Akoa Makani makes 25-foot three point jumper (Tonie Morgan assists)

55. 2nd Quarter · 3.3

    Emma Cannon makes 27-foot three point jumper (Tonie Morgan assists)

56. 3rd Quarter · 9:42

    Nneka Ogwumike makes 10-foot driving floating jump shot

57. 3rd Quarter · 9:02

    Megan DiLeo makes free throw 1 of 2

58. 3rd Quarter · 9:02

    Megan DiLeo makes free throw 2 of 2

59. 3rd Quarter · 8:41

    Rae Burrell makes free throw 2 of 2

60. 3rd Quarter · 8:29

    Carla Leite makes driving layup

61. 3rd Quarter · 8:11

    Erica Wheeler makes 23-foot three point jumper (Rae Burrell assists)

62. 3rd Quarter · 7:51

    Carla Leite makes free throw 1 of 2

63. 3rd Quarter · 7:45

    Carla Leite makes driving layup (Megan DiLeo assists)

64. 3rd Quarter · 7:45

    Carla Leite makes free throw 1 of 1

65. 3rd Quarter · 7:29

    Ariel Atkins makes free throw 1 of 2

66. 3rd Quarter · 7:29

    Ariel Atkins makes free throw 2 of 2

67. 3rd Quarter · 7:10

    Emily Engstler makes free throw 1 of 2

68. 3rd Quarter · 6:42

    Megan DiLeo makes free throw 2 of 2

69. 3rd Quarter · 6:26

    Erica Wheeler makes 26-foot three point jumper (Nneka Ogwumike assists)

70. 3rd Quarter · 5:56

    Rae Burrell makes 1-foot layup (Nneka Ogwumike assists)

71. 3rd Quarter · 5:25

    Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda makes two point shot

72. 3rd Quarter · 5:13

    Charisma Osborne makes free throw 1 of 2

73. 3rd Quarter · 5:13

    Charisma Osborne makes free throw 2 of 2

74. 3rd Quarter · 3:59

    Nneka Ogwumike makes driving layup (Monique Akoa Makani assists)

75. 3rd Quarter · 3:30

    Frieda Buhner makes free throw 2 of 2

76. 3rd Quarter · 3:12

    Jordan Harrison makes running layup

77. 3rd Quarter · 2:49

    Emily Engstler makes running layup (Jordan Harrison assists)

78. 3rd Quarter · 2:27

    Nneka Ogwumike makes 6-foot turnaround jump shot

79. 3rd Quarter · 2:10

    Emily Engstler makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jordan Harrison assists)

80. 3rd Quarter · 1:31

    Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda makes free throw 2 of 2

81. 3rd Quarter · 1:11

    Ariel Atkins makes 17-foot pullup jump shot (Tonie Morgan assists)

82. 3rd Quarter · 52.0

    Emily Engstler makes free throw 1 of 2

83. 3rd Quarter · 52.0

    Emily Engstler makes free throw 2 of 2

84. 3rd Quarter · 44.7

    Monique Akoa Makani makes free throw 2 of 2

85. 3rd Quarter · 36.8

    Carla Leite makes free throw 1 of 2

86. 3rd Quarter · 36.8

    Carla Leite makes free throw 2 of 2

87. 3rd Quarter · 25.8

    Tonie Morgan makes 6-foot two point shot (Monique Akoa Makani assists)

88. 4th Quarter · 9:02

    Megan DiLeo makes 2-foot layup (Carla Leite assists)

89. 4th Quarter · 8:19

    Chance Gray makes 23-foot three point jumper (Nneka Ogwumike assists)

90. 4th Quarter · 7:40

    Ariel Atkins makes tip shot

91. 4th Quarter · 7:18

    Charisma Osborne makes 24-foot three point jumper (Carla Leite assists)

92. 4th Quarter · 7:02

    Rae Burrell makes 18-foot two point shot (Nneka Ogwumike assists)

93. 4th Quarter · 6:57

    Carla Leite makes driving layup

94. 4th Quarter · 6:57

    Carla Leite makes free throw 1 of 1

95. 4th Quarter · 6:41

    Nneka Ogwumike makes two point shot

96. 4th Quarter · 6:17

    Nneka Ogwumike makes 25-foot three point jumper (Tonie Morgan assists)

97. 4th Quarter · 5:40

    Nyadiew Puoch makes 6-foot layup (Frieda Buhner assists)

98. 4th Quarter · 3:52

    Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda makes free throw 2 of 2

99. 4th Quarter · 3:39

    Charisma Osborne makes 5-foot two point shot

100. 4th Quarter · 3:25

     Rae Burrell makes free throw 1 of 2

101. 4th Quarter · 3:25

     Rae Burrell makes free throw 2 of 2

102. 4th Quarter · 3:10

     Serah Williams makes 6-foot turnaround jump shot (Nyadiew Puoch assists)

103. 4th Quarter · 2:10

     Chance Gray makes free throw 1 of 2

104. 4th Quarter · 2:10

     Chance Gray makes free throw 2 of 2

105. 4th Quarter · 1:58

     Charisma Osborne makes driving layup

106. 4th Quarter · 1:45

     Chance Gray makes 23-foot three point jumper (Shyanne Sellers assists)

107. 4th Quarter · 1:30

     Serah Williams makes driving layup (Jordan Harrison assists)

108. 4th Quarter · 51.0

     Charisma Osborne makes free throw 2 of 2