Shock fall to Sparks in disheartening double overtime loss

Tulsa Shock

The Tulsa Shock gave up a huge second half lead for the second time in three nights, but couldn’t hang for the win this time. image001

Los Angeles erased a 19-point fourth quarter deficit to send the game to an extra period.  There wound up being two, with the Sparks prevailing 90-88 in double overtime.

Candace Parker had the game-winner on a baseline runner with five seconds left.  Parker narrowly missed a triple-double with 26 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists, also leading her team in each of those categories.

Disheartening is one of the first words to come to mind for Tulsa (9-19), who not only lost the game after holding what looked to be an insurmountable lead, but also saw Liz Cambage go down with an ankle injury while she was having a stellar night for Tulsa.

Cambage’s injury came right in the middle of a Sparks’ 12-0 run in the fourth quarter.  Cambage was having a great defensive night and possibly headed for a double-double as well with six blocks, 14 boards and eight points.

Three Shock players scored in double figures, while all 10 players that took the court put points on the board.  Candace Wiggins had 20 points in the loss and pulled down eight rebounds.

Riquna Williams scored 17, going 3-4 from behind the arc with clutch shooting in the extra frames.  Her three-pointer at the end of the second overtime just rimmed out, nearly giving the Shock the win.

Nneka Ogwumike put in 21 points for Los Angeles (19-8), with 11 coming at important times in the two overtimes.

Tulsa will have time to let this one sink in.  The Shock next play on Friday, hosting San Antonio at 7 p.m. in the BOK Center.

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