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The seventh-seeded Sun move on to meet the
top-seeded Las Vegas Aces in Sunday's Game 1 of the semifinals,
which are a best-of-five series.
All five Connecticut starters scored in double figures, with
Briann January tacking on 11 points while Brionna Jones and
Jasmine Thomas, who had six assists, both notched 10 points.
Alyssa Thomas and Bonner each supplied five assists.
Candace Parker poured in 22 points to go with 14 rebounds and
five assists while reserve Seimone Augustus had 10 points for
the Sparks, who were charged with 14 turnovers compared to just
eight for the Sun.
Los Angeles swept both meetings with the Sun in the regular
season. However, Sparks guard Chelsea Gray, who was a key
contributor in those victories, was held to four points (2-for-9
shooting) without an assist in the playoff matchup.
The third-seeded Sparks were without starting forward Nneka
Ogwumike, who sat out due to illness. The Sun eliminated the
Sparks for the second year in a row.
Los Angeles missed its first 12 shots from 3-point range and
ended up 2-for-18 on 3s. The Sparks were down by 19 points after
Bonner converted a three-point play. After that, Parker
connected from deep for the team's first 3, coming late in the
third quarter.
The Sun led 39-23 at halftime, going 6-for-11 from 3-point range
in the opening half. Connecticut, which had only two points for
most of the game's first four minutes, produced 13 assists on 15
first-half baskets.
The Sparks were held to a season-low point total for a half, in
part because of 8-for-30 shooting from the field.
Connecticut finished 10-for-10 on free throws.
The Sun advanced to the second round by defeating the Chicago
Sky in Tuesday night's first round. Los Angeles had a bye into
the second round.
-Field Level Media
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