Deja vu: Fever again collapse late in loss to Sparks, ending 3-game winning streak
It's the second time the Fever (9-9) have lost to the Sparks (6-13) in a nine-day stretch. Fever star Caitlin Clark missed her fifth straight game with a groin injury, and Indiana couldn't find a rhythm defensively.
Indiana has a few days off before playing Golden State at noon Wednesday.
Here are two things that stood out.
Buy IndyStar's book remembering Caitlin Clark's rookie season!
Indiana hung its hat on defense in its three-game winning streak: the Fever held the Minnesota Lynx to 59 points (including an eight-minute scoreless stretch) to win the Commissioner's Cup on Tuesday, then held the Las Vegas Aces to 54 points on Thursday.
It was a significant stretch for the Fever — they held the best team in the league to under 60 points, then won their first game against Las Vegas since 2019.
But they couldn't seem to keep that defensive momentum against Los Angeles, the second-worst team in the league this season. It could've been for a variety of reasons, including the fact that Indiana has played nine games in 18 days.
insider: The Fever forced the Aces into something they hadn't done since 2015. How they made them 'look ugly'
Indiana could never build a comfortable lead on Saturday night, as the Sparks stayed within six nearly the entire game. It also helped that the Sparks had a great night beyond the arc, shooting 10 of 22.
The defense wasn't as stingy, and Los Angeles was able to take advantage of that.
Fever rookie Makayla Timpson got significant time in the rotation, and she made the most of it. Starting in the first quarter.
In under two minutes of play in the first quarter, Timpson had a block and three rebounds.
Her most heads-up play came at the end of the first quarter: Sparks forward Rickea Jackson was going up for a layup, and Timpson ran up to the basket, jumped, and blocked the ball right after it left Jackson's hands.
The ball flew into the baseline stands, and fans immediately jumped up in celebration. But Timpson, true to herself and the way she competes, didn't celebrate. She stayed stone-faced, ready for the next possession as if nothing happened.
Insider: Makayla Timpson growing despite 'tough' rookie year, will be needed with frontcourt depth limited
That's just the type of player Timpson is. And it's why, even as a rookie, that she's prepared for these big moments.
Timpson finished the game with 12 minutes off the bench, going 2 of 4 from the field for five points and adding on six rebounds.
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