Azura Stevens, Kelsey Plum each score 20-plus and the Sparks beat the short-handed Fever 85-75
Azura Stevens scored 23 points, Kelsey Plum had 21 points and six assists, and the Los Angeles Sparks ended a four-game losing streak by beating the short-handed Indiana Fever 85–75 on Thursday night.
Indiana played without Caitlin Clark due to a groin injury. Clark had recently returned from a quad injury that kept her sidelined for five games. She returned on June 14 and scored 32 points to help the Fever to a 102–88 victory against the Liberty.
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Plum made a 3-pointer with 4:13 left to give Los Angeles a 67–66 lead – its first since the opening minute of the second quarter. She added two free throws on their next possession to cap a 21–8 run spanning the third-quarter break. Los Angeles sealed it by grabbing two offensive rebounds with under a minute to play. Dearica Hamby was fouled while making a layup to give the Sparks a 79–75 lead. She missed the free throw, but Stevens grabbed it and completed a three-point play to make it 81–75 with 49 seconds left.
Hamby and Rickea Jackson each scored 14 points for Los Angeles (5–11). Kelsey Mitchell led Indiana (7–8) with 20 points, and Aliyah Boston had 12 points, 10 rebounds, and five steals.
Indiana led 31–22 before Los Angeles went on an 8–0 run capped by Shey Peddy's 3-pointer to get within one. Sophie Cunningham answered with a 3-pointer, and the Fever led 34–30 at the break after forcing 15 turnovers.
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