Sparks rally in fourth again against Fever, pick up win

The Sparks used another fourth quarter rally against the Fever on Saturday to snap their losing streak.

For the second time in 10 days, the Sparks rallied in the fourth quarter in Los Angeles to come up with a streak-snapping win, downing the Fever on Saturday, 88-87.

Azurá Stevens led the way offensively on the night with 21 points and nine rebounds. Kelsey Plum had a big second quarter en route to her scoring 20 points as well. Dearica Hamby had 18 and Rickea Jackson had 15.

Despite giving up some early easy buckets to the Fever, the Sparks kept pace in a back-and-forth start to the game. In fact, they held a 13-10 lead midway through the quarter before an and-one by Aliyah Boston tied the game.

Stevens responded with a 3-pointer to keep the Sparks in front. Not until a 3-pointer from Kelsey Mitchell did the Fever retake the lead at 19-18.

A flurry from the Fever to end the period saw Makayala Timpson block Jackson at the rim before Mitchell connected on another three to give the hosts a 23-21 lead after one.

While the Sparks were answering every Fever basket with one of their own, they could not mount enough stops to move back ahead. After a 3-pointer by Colson and a pair of free throws from Natasha Howard put Indiana up six, Plum knocked down an important three to halve the deficit.

A jumper from Jackson and a tough finish from Plum moved them back ahead, 33-32, with just under five minutes to go in the half. Plum continued her strong quarter with a step-back 3-pointer, but the Fever continued to respond to keep the game tied at 36.

Indiana again added some separation, opening up a five-point margin after a Lexie Hull 3-pointer. Jackson converted once more at the rim before stonewalling Mitchell to close out the half, letting the Sparks go into the break trailing by just three.

A timely 3-pointer by Stevens early in the third kept the Fever from pulling away. Natasha Howard responded with a 3-pointer that pushed the lead back to four. Stevens again had a response with a finish on a fastbreak layup to make it a two-point game and force an Indiana timeout.

In a bit of déjà vu all over again, another Indiana push, this one opening it up to an eight-point lead, was answered with a Stevens 3-pointer. Hamby then connected on her own 3-pointer to once again make it a two-point game.

Another spurt from the Sparks was capped off with a Plum 3-pointer, the 10th in 18 attempts for the Sparks, to put them up 70-67. Howard converted on the other end before the buzzer but LA still took a one-point lead into the fourth.

Things started to get chippy in the fourth with the score remaining close. Lexie Hull put the Fever up three, but Stevens responded again, as she had all night.

Mitchell eventually created separation with a 3-pointer to put the Fever up 80-74 just past the midway point of the period. Plum made it a two-point game with a pair of freebies, but Sophie Cunningham’s and-one extended it to a five-point lead.

Consecutive baskets by Jackson and Hamby again pulled it back to a one-point game, but Boston and Mitchell had responses.

A big three-point play by Jackson kept the Sparks close. After a defensive stop, Jackson finished at the rim to put LA up 88-87 with 57.4 seconds remaining.

Stevens then stopped Boston on a layup attempt on the other end, secured the ball and called a timeout to give the Sparks possession. LA would turn the ball over on the ensuing possession, but then dodged a pair of bullets as the Fever missed two chances to take the lead.

Stevens would secure the board and split a pair of freebies with 3.3 seconds left, missing the second. Boston would miss an open jumper at the buzzer to end the game.

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