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Capital One Arena, WA- The Los Angeles Sparks (19-14) struggled through the fourth quarter and came up short after a buzzer beater by Natasha Cloud in a lost against the Washington Mystics (22-11) 69-67. This caused a shift in playoff positioning as they began to wrap up the 2018 season.
Sparks center Candace Parker set the tone early with an eight-point first quarter making all three of her field goal attempts giving L.A. a 23-18 lead.
The Mystics would come back in the second period holding the Sparks to 37% shooting to tie the score at 40 going into the half after a minor altercation between Parker and Tianna Hawkins of the Mystics.
Washington continued their third quarter struggles as they shot a dismal 33% form the field but were able to keep the game close ending the period down 58-54.
In what has been a familiar pattern with the Sparks, the fourth quarter would only produce nine points on 25% shooting and 1-5 from the three-point arch.
Los Angeles managed to stop Washington from taking over the game but the Mystics would not go away.
Forward/guard Essence Carson put the Sparks up by five at 4:52 mark. With a driving layup by Delle Donne and a three-pointer by Aerial Powers, the Mystics tied the game 67 all.
For the Sparks, Parker finished the game with 13 points, seven assists and eight rebounds on 56% shooting but was held scoreless in the fourth quarter. Power forward Nneka Ogwumike added 10 points and five rebounds while point guard Chelsea Gray contributed 10 points and four rebounds.
Washington was lead by Delle Donne whom had 16 points and 10 rebounds. LaToya Sanders contributed 10 points with eight rebounds while former Sparks shooting guard Kristi Toliver added 12 points, five assists and four rebounds. Aerial Powers also added 10 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
The Sparks will wrap up the regular season at the Mohegan Sun Arena against Chiney Ogwumike and the Connecticut Suns on Sunday August 19th.