Mike Thibault gets 300th career win as Mystics beat Sparks 83-74

Jul 8, 2019, 03:51 am

LOS ANGELES -- Kristi Toliver scored 18 points to help the Washington Mystics beat the Los Angeles Sparks 83-74 on Saturday for coach Mike Thibault's 300th career regular-season win.

Thibault is the first WNBA coach to reach that milestone. Sparks coach Brian Agler is second all time with 264 wins.

LaToya Sanders added 14 points and eight rebounds, while Elena Delle Donne and Ariel Atkins scored 11 points apiece for the Mystics (12-6). Washington has won six of its last seven games.

Toliver, who hit all of her 13 free throw attempts, made two foul shots to spark an 8-2 spurt that gave the Mystics a 74-66 lead with two minutes left after a jumper by Natasha Cloud. Chelsea Gray hit a 3-pointer to pull the Sparks within five with 1:18 remaining, but Washington made 9 of 10 free throws from there to seal it.

Gray led Los Angeles (12-8) with 23 points and Nneka Ogwumike had 22 points, 13 rebounds and 5 assists. The Sparks have lost five of their last six.

The Mystics shot just 41 percent, including 1-of-16 from 3-point range but made 32-of-35 free throws.