Los Angeles Sparks beat the Dallas Wings 81-80 on Wednesday
Kelsey Plum banked in the winning shot just before the buzzer
Paige Bueckers scored the most points in the WNBA this season
Kelsey Plum banked in the winning shot just before the buzzer and the Los Angeles Sparks beat the Dallas Wings 81-80 on Wednesday night to spoil rookie Paige Bueckers' career-high 44-point performance.
Bueckers scored the most points in the WNBA this season and tied Cynthia Cooper’s 28-year-old record for most points in a game by a first-year player.
Bueckers scored Dallas' final 13 points, the last on a technical free throw with 1:03 remaining for an 80-79 lead. But the Wings (9-27) turned it over after winning the ensuing jump ball and Aziaha James missed a corner 3-pointer with about 20 seconds left to give Los Angeles the final shot.
Plum used a high screen from Dearica Hamby to get into the lane for a left-handed floater that banked in before she was surrounded by Rickea Jackson and Rae Burrell in celebration.
Plum finished with 20 points for Los Angeles (17-18). Jackson had 25 points and a career-high six 3-pointers, Hamby added 14 points and Cameron Brink had 11 points and eight rebounds.
The Sparks' victory eliminated the Wings and Chicago Sky from playoff contention.
Bueckers, whose previous high was 35 points against the Phoenix Mercury on June 11, went 17 of 21 from the field, including 4 of 4 from 3-point range, and 6 of 6 at the free-throw line.
