AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- With the Detroit Shock's season on the line, Deanna Nolan walked away from her teammates and competitors and tried to clear her mind.
It worked.
Nolan's two free throws with 12.1 seconds left gave the Shock a 62-61 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday and forced a decisive Game 3 in the WNBA Finals.
"I was trying to make sure nothing was going through my mind about how big those shots were," Nolan said. "When I got fouled, I walked to the other end of the floor because I didn't want anybody to say anything to me. I just wanted to go to the line to knock the shots down."
The two-time defending champion Sparks led by four points with 1:28 left, after trailing by 19 late in the first half. But they couldn't make the shots or stops needed to win.
"We expected them to come back, because that's what champions do," Detroit coach Bill Laimbeer said. "They tested us and pushed us, but our confidence never wavered. We just made the shots we've been making all year, and they didn't, and that's why we're still playing."
Kedra Holland-Corn's three-pointer pulled Detroit within one, and Nolan's free throws gave Detroit the lead for good. The Sparks were unable to get off a clean shot in the final seconds after DeLisha Milton tried to make a pass to Lisa Leslie near the basket.
Milton said there was contact, but it was a no-call situation. Leslie wasn't sure what happened.
"It's all a blur," Leslie said.
The best-of-three series will conclude Tuesday at The Palace, which drew a franchise-record crowd of 17,846 for Game 2. It was also the second-largest crowd for a WNBA Final, behind the 19,563 fans that went to Madison Square Garden in 2000 to watch New York play Houston.
Detroit's win was the first for the Eastern Conference in the finals since 1999 when New York beat Houston in Game 2.
Holland-Corn, a reserve, scored 16 and Nolan added 14. Detroit's top player, Swin Cash, was limited to nine points on 4-for-12 shooting. Leslie scored 16 of her 18 points during Los Angeles' second-half comeback. Milton also scored 18. Nikki Teasley posted 10 points and six assists.
After Detroit built its huge first-half lead, Leslie played like she wasn't interested in staying in suburban Detroit for another two days.
Leslie, who missed her first six shots, scored eight points during an 18-5 run to cut Los Angeles' deficit to 50-48 midway through the second half.
Holland-Corn scored seven points in less than two minutes to put the Shock ahead 57-50, but Leslie didn't let them enjoy the lead.
Leslie's three-point play and layup tied it at 57 with 3:15 to go. Mwadi Mabika's two free throws put Los Angeles ahead for the first time since it was up 4-2. Leslie's hook shot gave the Sparks a 61-57 lead and forced Detroit to call a timeout with 1:25 left.
Holland-Corn then made a 3-pointer from the right wing. She said it was her biggest shot since making three late 3-pointers to help Georgia beat Colorado to advance to the 1995 NCAA Final Four.
On Detroit's next possession, Leslie fouled Nolan from behind to set up her decisive free throws.
Despite the loss, Sparks coach Michael Cooper said it was "a great game," and showed the WNBA has gone to another level.
"For a minute, I thought I had a flashback," the former Los Angles Lakers guard said. "I thought I was in Boston Garden in '85 playing."
Detroit overcame a disparity at the free throw line. The Sparks made 13 of 16 free throws and the Shock were 4-of-5.
The Shock, who never led during Game 1 in Los Angeles, scored 11 unanswered points to take a 24-9 lead midway through the first half and were ahead 38-22 at halftime.
Milton didn't recognize her team during the first half.
"It wasn't the L.A. Sparks that is known for winning championships," Milton said.
WNBA finals
(Best-of-three)
Friday
Los Angeles 75, Detroit 63
Sunday
Detroit 62, Los Angeles 61, series tied 1-1
Tuesday
Los Angeles at Detroit, 6 p.m.
http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Sep/09152003/sports/92689.asp
It worked.
Nolan's two free throws with 12.1 seconds left gave the Shock a 62-61 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday and forced a decisive Game 3 in the WNBA Finals.
"I was trying to make sure nothing was going through my mind about how big those shots were," Nolan said. "When I got fouled, I walked to the other end of the floor because I didn't want anybody to say anything to me. I just wanted to go to the line to knock the shots down."
The two-time defending champion Sparks led by four points with 1:28 left, after trailing by 19 late in the first half. But they couldn't make the shots or stops needed to win.
"We expected them to come back, because that's what champions do," Detroit coach Bill Laimbeer said. "They tested us and pushed us, but our confidence never wavered. We just made the shots we've been making all year, and they didn't, and that's why we're still playing."
Kedra Holland-Corn's three-pointer pulled Detroit within one, and Nolan's free throws gave Detroit the lead for good. The Sparks were unable to get off a clean shot in the final seconds after DeLisha Milton tried to make a pass to Lisa Leslie near the basket.
Milton said there was contact, but it was a no-call situation. Leslie wasn't sure what happened.
"It's all a blur," Leslie said.
The best-of-three series will conclude Tuesday at The Palace, which drew a franchise-record crowd of 17,846 for Game 2. It was also the second-largest crowd for a WNBA Final, behind the 19,563 fans that went to Madison Square Garden in 2000 to watch New York play Houston.
Detroit's win was the first for the Eastern Conference in the finals since 1999 when New York beat Houston in Game 2.
Holland-Corn, a reserve, scored 16 and Nolan added 14. Detroit's top player, Swin Cash, was limited to nine points on 4-for-12 shooting. Leslie scored 16 of her 18 points during Los Angeles' second-half comeback. Milton also scored 18. Nikki Teasley posted 10 points and six assists.
After Detroit built its huge first-half lead, Leslie played like she wasn't interested in staying in suburban Detroit for another two days.
Leslie, who missed her first six shots, scored eight points during an 18-5 run to cut Los Angeles' deficit to 50-48 midway through the second half.
Holland-Corn scored seven points in less than two minutes to put the Shock ahead 57-50, but Leslie didn't let them enjoy the lead.
Leslie's three-point play and layup tied it at 57 with 3:15 to go. Mwadi Mabika's two free throws put Los Angeles ahead for the first time since it was up 4-2. Leslie's hook shot gave the Sparks a 61-57 lead and forced Detroit to call a timeout with 1:25 left.
Holland-Corn then made a 3-pointer from the right wing. She said it was her biggest shot since making three late 3-pointers to help Georgia beat Colorado to advance to the 1995 NCAA Final Four.
On Detroit's next possession, Leslie fouled Nolan from behind to set up her decisive free throws.
Despite the loss, Sparks coach Michael Cooper said it was "a great game," and showed the WNBA has gone to another level.
"For a minute, I thought I had a flashback," the former Los Angles Lakers guard said. "I thought I was in Boston Garden in '85 playing."
Detroit overcame a disparity at the free throw line. The Sparks made 13 of 16 free throws and the Shock were 4-of-5.
The Shock, who never led during Game 1 in Los Angeles, scored 11 unanswered points to take a 24-9 lead midway through the first half and were ahead 38-22 at halftime.
Milton didn't recognize her team during the first half.
"It wasn't the L.A. Sparks that is known for winning championships," Milton said.
WNBA finals
(Best-of-three)
Friday
Los Angeles 75, Detroit 63
Sunday
Detroit 62, Los Angeles 61, series tied 1-1
Tuesday
Los Angeles at Detroit, 6 p.m.
http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Sep/09152003/sports/92689.asp
