Sparks can’t survive Rickea Jackson’s ejection, drop home finale to Mercury

LOS ANGELES — Rickea Jackson learned another valuable lesson on Tuesday night.

It’s not that the rookie shouldn’t test veterans in this league, or react accordingly when 6-foot-9 Brittney Griner gets in her face.

For the Sparks to compete in the waning moments of games, they desperately need her presence and her ability to score against any defensive coverage, and they need her to remain composed.

Jackson and the Sparks had built a seven-point lead on the Phoenix Mercury, but with 18 seconds remaining in the second quarter, she was ejected after an altercation with Griner that saw the three-time Olympic gold medalist part way, too. Griner and Jackson exchanged shoves while in rebounding position following a Mercury free throw.

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With Jackson gone, the Sparks lost their calm, and with it, conceded a 19-2 run. They committed 20 turnovers, their sloppiness overshadowing Li Yueru’s career-high 19-point performance. The Mercury (19-20) scored 31 points off turnovers and handed the Sparks (7-32) an 85-81 loss – their eighth straight – in their final home game of the season.

Jackson had played every minute of the game before her ejection. She’s led the Sparks in scoring since the Olympic break. Their approach Tuesday was built around her brilliance, whereas the Mercury were able to calmly adjust in Griner’s absence.

They increased the speed of the game, pressuring the Sparks’ ball-handlers for the length of the court. It wasn’t the first time they had called for the press. In the second quarter, with Griner in, the Mercury’s overzealousness had led to a trio of 3-pointers from Zia Cooke that put the Sparks ahead by double-digits. With Griner out and a smaller unit in, the Mercury turned the Sparks over 10 times.

Sophie Cunningham picked Azura Stevens’ pocket to put the Mercury in front. In the half-court, Diana Taurasi sliced and diced the Sparks defense, scoring 10 points in the quarter.

The Mercury led by 10 entering the fourth quarter and the Sparks were able to cut that margin to five.

Kia Nurse hit a 3-pointer and Dearica Hamby (team-high 21 points) added a left-handed scoop layup. The Mercury, again, benefited from the Sparks’ sloppiness as Natasha Cloud jumped Crystal Dangerfield’s pass, taking it the other way for a fast-break layup. Then Cunningham hit a 3-pointer to extend Phoenix’s lead to 79-66.

Hamby came right back, burying a 3-pointer from the top of the key. The Sparks scored eight straight, but Mikiah Herbert Harrigan answered with a pull-up from the left wing for the dagger.

Yueru grabbed 12 rebounds to go with her big scoring night and Hamby added nine boards as the Sparks enjoyed a 49-25 rebounding advantage. Kia Nurse added 10 points and seven rebounds, and Jackson had eight points on 2-for-11 shooting before her ejection.

Griner and Cunningham scored 14 points apiece and Cloud had 13 points and 12 assists to pace Phoenix. Diana Taurasi added 13 points and Mikiah Herbert-Harrigan had 10 as Phoenix scored 31 points off the Sparks’ turnovers to offset a 49-25 rebounding deficit.

More to come on this story.