STAR OF THE GAME Tangela Smith Smith stuffed the stat sheet in the tough loss to the Sparks. In her 30 minutes of action she poured in 14 points, ripped down a team high nine rebounds and dished out five assists. Smith made a season high four baskets behind the arc. UNSUNG HERO Erin Phillips Despite the loss, Phillips played a complete game for Indiana. In her 29 minutes of action, she had 16 points, five rebounds, and handed out five assists. HIDDEN NUMBERS Points in the paint: Fever 26, Sparks 28 Second-chance points: Fever 8, Sparks9 Fast-break points: Fever 2, Sparks 8 Points off turnovers: Fever 2, Sparks 19 Starters scoring: Fever 62, Sparks 40 Bench scoring: Fever 8, Sparks 35

By Associated Press | August 18, 2011

LOS ANGELES (AP) Ebony Hoffman scored 21 points against her former team to help the Los Angeles Sparks beat the Indiana Fever 75-70 on Thursday night. Candace Parker added 18 points and Los Angeles (10-14) held Indiana (18-8) to four points over the final 4:57

Tamika Catchings and Erin Phillips each had 16 points for the Eastern Conference-leading Fever.

After Noelle Quinn's layup put the Sparks ahead, Katie Douglas made a 3-pointer and layup for the 66-62 lead with 4:57 remaining. The Fever snapped a nearly 4-minute scoring drought on Douglas' two free throws with 20.6 seconds left cut it to 70-68.

The Fever fouled Parker on the inbounds and she spilt the free throws for a three-point cushion. Catchings missed a layup and, after another intentional foul, Hoffman made two free throws.