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Home is not where the wins are: Road teams are 4-1 in the 2013 Playoffs (will improve to 5-1 if the Sparks hold off the Mercury tonight)
— Kristofer Habbas (@Kris_Habbas) September 22, 2013
In a postseason that has not been friendly to home teams, the Los Angeles Sparks beat the Phoenix Mercury 82-73 at US Airways Center to force a Game Three in their first round of the 2013 WNBA Playoffs.
One of the stranger statistics of the series ended up being a telling one in tonight's outcome.
Sparks 0-21 from arc in this series. There will be a game 3 because of @Candace_Parker and @Nnemkadi30 and defense of @Alanabeard20.
— Maria M. Cornelius (@mmcornelius) September 22, 2013
The Sparks didn't win this game - and won't win this series - with an outstanding shooting performance. Instead. a strong first half performance that featured aggressive rebounding and efficient ball handling helped them to establish a 14-point lead that ended up being an insurmountable deficit for the Mercury.
With both teams having lost a game at home, the series returns to L.A. for a decisive third game.
Final Score: Sparks win 82-73 to even up the series at 1-1, Game Three on Monday at 7pm on ESPN2... Mercury are 2-1 in LA this season.
— Kristofer Habbas (@Kris_Habbas) September 22, 2013
For more on the series, check out our series storystream.