Kelsey Plum and the Los Angeles Sparks defeated the Indiana Fever for a second time in as many weeks, winning 89-87, on Saturday, July 5.
The Fever, who were playing without All-WNBA guard Caitlin Clark, had their win streak snapped after three games.
Indiana had a chance to take the lead and win the game at the buzzer, but Aliyah Boston came up short on her shot attempt. The Fever held a lead as large as eight points during the game.
The Sparks trailed at the end of each of the first two quarters but turned things around in the third quarter to take a 1-point lead going into the final period.
Four of the Sparks’ five starters finished the game with double-digit points. Azura Stevens produced a double-double with a team-high 21 points and 12 rebounds in the Sparks’ victory. Plum added 20 points, three assists and three rebounds. Forward Dearica Hamby added 18 points and Rickea Jackson had 15 points.
Boston finished with 23 points and 12 rebounds for the Fever. Natasha Howard almost had a double-double after recording 21 points and nine rebounds.
The Fever will host the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday, July 9. The Sparks will host the Minnesota Lynx on Thursday, July 10.
Highlights: Sparks 89, Fever 87
3Q: Sparks 70, Fever 69
Azura Stevens had 17 points and six rebounds for the Sparks after three quarters of play. Dearica Hamby and Kelsey Plum each had 16 points.
Natasha Howard had 19 points and seven rebounds for the Fever. Aliyah Boston produced a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds before the final quarter of regulation.
Halftime: Fever 45, Sparks 42
Aliyah Boston shot 6-of-10 from the field while finishing the first half with 13 points, seven rebounds and a block. Natasha Howard added eight points and five rebounds for the Fever.
‘We have to be a lot more disciplined on the defensive end,’ Boston said during a halftime interview on NBA TV. ‘They’re getting some pretty clean looks. They’ve gotten some second-chance points. So we have to make sure we clean that up.’
Kelsey Plum had a team-high 11 points for the Sparks. Azura Stevens had nine points and six rebounds in the first half but was limited to just two points in the second quarter.
1Q: Fever 23, Sparks 21
Aliyah Boston had seven points and five rebounds for Indiana in the opening period against Los Angeles. Kelsey Mitchell added eight points. Both women played all 10 minutes in the quarter.
Azura Stevens led the Sparks with seven points and four rebounds in eight minutes of play. Dearica Hamby added six points, two rebounds and two assists in 10 minutes.
Caitlin Clark ruled out with groin injury
Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark missed her fifth consecutive game due to a left groin injury on Saturday.
It’s the 10th game that Clark has missed this season, including the Fever’s 74-59 victory over the Minnesota Lynx in the Commissioner’s Cup final on July 1.
The Fever have remained competitive without Clark, winning the last three games that followed a loss to the Los Angeles Sparks on June 26.
Clark has begun to work her way back by participating in drills and was spotted sitting on the bench during the game on Saturday.
Fever coach Stephanie White indicated that Clark would ideally be back in the lineup to play when she wouldn’t need to be on a minutes restriction.
Fever starting lineup vs. Sparks
Guard Kelsey Mitchell, guard Aari McDonald, guard Lexie Hull, forward Natasha Howard and forward-center Aliyah Boston make up the starting lineup on Saturday.
Sparks starting lineup vs. Fever
Guard Julie Allemand, guard Kelsey Plum, forward Rickea Jackson, forward Dearica Hamby and forward-center Azura Stevens will start against the Fever tonight.
How to watch Los Angeles Sparks vs. Indiana Fever: TV, stream
Date: Saturday, July 5
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
TV: NBA TV
Live stream: Fubo
The game will be available to view on demand on WNBA League Pass after it concludes.
Watch Fever vs Sparks with Fubo
