Sabrina Ionescu delivered a classic efficiency when the Liberty desperately wanted it.
With many followers at Barclays Heart donning the neon, construction-themed shirts distributed as a part of a Ionescu giveaway, she delivered 30 factors, eight rebounds, six assists and 4 steals for a Liberty group making an attempt to adapt with out an injured Breanna Stewart throughout their 101-99 loss to the Sparks on Saturday.
Ionescu grew to become the fourth participant in WNBA historical past to report that statline — becoming a member of Caitlin Clark, Candace Parker and Brandy Reed, based on the group.
“Just trying to play my game, and read when the defense gives me,” Ionescu mentioned. “Continue to find ways to facilitate and be the best that I can for this offense. Obviously, we were down players that normally score a lot for us, so trying to get some easy ones, finding the shot in the midrange, get to the basket, to the free-throw line. Just kind of do what I do every single night and find a way to try and win.”
Ionescu poured in 17 factors throughout the first half, however Los Angeles contained her for the third quarter and the early portion of the fourth.
However that’s when Ionescu took over, and he or she tied the sport with simply over two minutes left after changing an and-one.
Then, she hit a pair of jumpers within the ultimate minutes to assist reply the Sparks, following up her 29-point efficiency in opposition to the Mercury on Friday along with her third 30-point recreation of the season one night time later.
When the Liberty wanted somebody to assist exchange the manufacturing of Stewart down the stretch, Ionescu, together with Natasha Cloud (22 factors) transformed in key spots.
However after the Liberty couldn’t get a cease on the ultimate possession, Ionescu, who entered the night time averaging a career-high 18.9 factors per recreation and made a fourth consecutive All-Star Sport, by no means obtained one other probability to make sure her dominant night time ended with a victory.
Kennedy Burke solely performed 6:08 and was dominated out with cramping, head coach Sandy Brondello mentioned. Leonie Fiebich, who completed with 10 factors, had her hand wrapped after injuring it Friday.
Together with her block, Jonquel Jones moved into seventh place on the Liberty’s all-time blocks listing with 114, passing Janel McCarville.
Stephanie Talbot, signed by the Liberty this week after getting waived by the Valkyries, logged 17 minutes — her most since arriving in Brooklyn — and was on the court docket throughout the ultimate moments of the sport. She went 0-for-2 from the sector and picked up 4 rebounds.
“It’s hard for her,” Brondello mentioned. “She’s hardly practiced.”
