Live From Press Row - Storm vs. Los Angeles
For the Seattle Storm, Seeing is Believing. Want to enjoy the electricity of at KeyArena even if you're thousands of miles away? storm.wnba.com's Live From the Press Box in-game blog is your best bet. All night and all season long, Kevin Pelton will be bringing you pregame quotes, analysis and observations from the game. Make sure to keep coming back or refreshing so you get the latest content.
Crazy Ending
Final: Los Angeles 71, Storm 70
Jessica Moore splits two free throws, leaving the door open for the Storm. Betty Lennox drove the length of the floor and banked in a runner with no time remaining from 15 feet out, thinking it was a two-point game. However, Lennox's score was harmless to the Sparks, who come away with a 71-70 victory. That was a stunning result to everyone in KeyArena. Great games tonight by Lauren Jackson (27 points, eight rebounds on 10-for-16 shooting) and Iziane Castro Marques (17 points on 6-for-11 shooting) but Sue Bird (2-for-13) just couldn't buy a bucket and Lisa Leslie (31 points on 14-for-24 shooting, though eight turnovers) dominated at the other end.
The Storm is on the road Tuesday at Minnesota before returning to Seattle for the last two home games of 2006. We'll see you there as we celebrate Storm fans contributions all season long.
Tough Turnover
Fourth Quarter: Los Angeles 70, Storm 68
A prescient David Locke noted before the Storm's play that Los Angeles would probably leave Tiffani Johnson open. Indeed she was, and Lauren Jackson found her open under the basket for a layup. But that was only after Sue Bird's pass to Jackson was too long, forcing Jackson to step ever so slightly on the endline before making the page, giving Los Angeles the ball. With 7.8 seconds left the Storm will have to foul.
Crucial Possession
Fourth Quarter: Los Angeles 70, Storm 68
I won't be surprised if Lauren Jackson passes out, exhausted, at the conclusion of this game. She's used every ounce of her energy in the fourth quarter trying to spur the Storm to victory. Her last play might have been her biggest, fronting Lisa Leslie for a steal with 19.9 seconds left to get the Storm the ball and a chance to tie after Los Angeles got four straight points. A big turnover by Sue Bird inside the final minute allowed Chamique Holdsclaw a fast-break layup to push Los Angeles' lead to four points in concert with a Lisa Leslie score in the post. Now, the Storm has its chance to answer after a Betty Lennox runner with 38.2 seconds left.
Every Play Counts
Fourth Quarter: Los Angeles 66, Storm 64
There are 149 seconds left in this game, and every one of them will be huge as the Storm looks to hold on to the fourth playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Storm has done a great job of maintaining composure even as the Sparks have gotten a pair of technical fouls (and possibly been close to a couple more) in this final period. Lauren Jackson is just relentlessly going to the basket. Who knows what the Storm could be doing if Sue Bird (2-for-13 from the field) could get a jumper to rattle in instead of out.
Down to the Stretch
Fourth Quarter: Los Angeles 59, Storm 56
Does it get any better than this? With a second less than six minutes left in this game, we have a three-point game with Lauren Jackson and Lisa Leslie, the two best players in the world, starring for their respective squads. We've got some extracurricular activity, including a technical foul on Leslie and nearly another one on Sparks Coach Joe Bryant. We've got the train. Well, the answer is yes, it does get better, but probably not in the regular season. My heart is pounding right now, and if you're a Storm fan, I bet yours is too.
Fascinating tactical battle going on. Los Angeles has played the last 10 minutes or so with 6-2 Murriel Page, normally a forward, at shooting guard. With Temeka Johnson at the point, there aren't any shooters on the court for Los Angeles. However, the Sparks have been effective on the glass against the Storm's 2-3 zone. Meanwhile, L.A. is also in a zone with Chamique Holdsclaw patrolling the top. However, Lauren Jackson is simply willing her way to points right now.
Storm Overcomes Breakdown Stretch
End Third Quarter: Los Angeles 51, Storm 47
After tying this game briefly, the Storm had an atypically unfocused stretch, allowing the Sparks an 8-0 run with some breakdowns, including a turnover on an inbounds pass. But Los Angeles did not score again the rest of the third quarter as the Storm got a couple of buckets to get within four after three quarters. The crowd is really in this game, giving the Storm a great deal of support. Can the Storm feed off that for a win?
Worth noting: Iziane Castro Marques has played very well this season against Los Angeles, scoring 34 points on 14-for-22 shooting in three matchups ... there are just 18 combined fouls tonight after the teams combined for 56 in the first matchup ... L.A. has gone extremely big to a lineup with 6-2 Murriel Page as the shooting guard - it's a move for defense ... Lisa Leslie has 24 points on 11-for-18 shooting, but also seven turnovers.
Storm Goes Painting
Third Quarter: Los Angeles 41, Storm 40
Points in the paint have been a critical indicator for the Storm this season. Seattle is 11-4 when outscoring opponents in the paint or tying, just 3-9 when being outscored. At halftime, it was 22-6 Los Angeles all over the paint. But it's 12-6 Storm during the third quarter as Lauren Jackson, before heading to the bench for a rest, had six points on 3-for-4 shooting in the paint. Ashley Robinson also had a gorgeous finger roll in traffic a moment ago to pull the Storm within one.
Storm Takes Some Momentum to Locker Room
Halftime: Los Angeles 31, Storm 28
After a Lisa Leslie bucket plus the foul gave the Sparks their largest lead of the first half, 31-23, the Storm was able to get some good feelings back by scoring the last five points of the half to go in down just three despite shooting 30.0%. Seattle did with Lauren Jackson on the bench with three fouls. Shifting into a softer zone with Ashley Robinson patrolling the paint, the Storm was able to force three Leslie turnovers in the final two minutes - she had five of Los Angeles' nine in the half. So while Leslie had 16 points, she needed 18 possessions to get them - not a particularly efficient performance. The Storm needs more production from the backcourt in the second half. Sue Bird and Betty Lennox have combined for 11 points, but shot just 3-for-14 from the field.
Sparks Taking Control
Second Quarter: Los Angeles 27, Storm 21
Los Angeles doing great things in this second quarter at both ends of the floor. The Storm is shooting just 6-for-22 from the field (27.3%) tonight and has eight turnovers. On the other side, the Storm's 3-2 zone was ineffective at keeping the ball out of the paint. Lisa Leslie now has 14 points on 6-for-12 shooting and more than half her team's points.
Sparks Bench Showing Up
Second Quarter: Los Angeles 20, Storm 16
8-2 run here in the second quarter by the Sparks, and six of the points have come from the bench (none from second-leading scorer Chamique Holdsclaw). Christi Thomas, a great asset to have coming off the bench, has four rebounds and two blocks. She's not moving too well right now after a recent knee injury, but still has gotten a couple of buckets inside.
A-Rob Love
End First Quarter: Storm 14, Los Angeles 12
When Storm reserve post Ashley Robinson checked into the game, she got a huge ovation from the Storm fans. Robinson picked a great time to have her breakout game with 13 rebounds on Friday, just before yesterday's season-ticket holder party. Robinson got a great reception there as well. Anne Donovan raved about Robinson before the game.
"The players have really embraced her," said Donovan, "not just from a basketball standpoint, but off the court."
I enjoyed helping Robinson - and Barbara Turner and Lauren Jackson - with Bingo yesterday. The party was, as usual, a lot of fun.
Storm Looking (Relatively) Healthy
Pregame
About as good news as could be expected on the injury front for the Seattle Storm tonight. While Janell Burse remains sidelined and backup center Cisti Greenwalt will not play after suffering a concussion on Friday night, Lauren Jackson and Betty Lennox are dressed and warming up with their teammates.
Anne Donovan said earlier that Jackson was expected to play.
"Same thing with Betty - scheduled to go," she said. "Everybody went through shootaround."
Both Jackson and Lennox started against Detroit before being unable to continue, so their starting is no guarantee the Storm will have them all evening, but it's still got to produce a sigh of relief for Storm fans - and the coaching staff.
Signing On
Pregame
Welcome back to KeyArena. Two days after suffering from injuries against the Detroit Shock, the Storm is hoping to have a little better luck in that regard tonight as the WNBA-leading Los Angeles Sparks invade KeyArena for the second and final time tonight. The Storm has a chance to sweep the season series with the Sparks after blowing them out right here 10 weeks ago on Opening Night and surprising them in Los Angeles without injured Lauren Jackson.
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