Sparks stay in playoff hunt

Hamby scores 20 points and Plum adds 18 in crucial victory over Washington.

- By Kara ALEXANDER

SEAN M. HAFFEY Getty Images

THE SPARKS' Dearica Hamby reacts during a recent game against the Indiana Fever at Crypto.​com Arena. She led L.A. past the Mystics 81-78 on Sunday night.

The Sparks won a crucial game Sunday, defeating the Washington Mystics 81-78 to keep their slim playoff hopes alive heading into the final two weeks of the regular season.

Washington hit a trio of three-pointers in the final minute, but Dearica Hamby‘s jumper in the paint and Kelsey Plum‘s two free throws in the final 20 seconds were enough to seal a Sparks win.

Hamby led the Sparks with 20 points and 12 rebounds, recording her 11th double-double of the season. Plum added 18 points, four rebounds and seven assists. Rickea Jackson contributed 16 points and Azura Stevens had 12 rebounds.

“Dearica was just a beast on the boards and finishing in traffic with those and-ones,” Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said. “She’s just so strong and athletic.”