Ionescu, Howard help Liberty cruise past Sparks, 102-73
NEW YORK (AP) — Sabrina Ionescu scored 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting, Natasha Howard had 24 points and 11 rebounds and the New York Liberty beat the Los Angeles Sparks 102-73 in the first of back-to-games between the teams. The Liberty (12-18) and Los Angeles (12-18), who play again tomorrow in New York, are tied with the Atlanta Dream for the eighth and final playoff spot with less than two weeks remaining in the regular season, a half-game behind the Phoenix Mercury (13-18) and a half-game ahead of the 11th-place Minnesota Lynx (12-19). Brittney Sykes led the Sparks with 19 points.