LOS ANGELES, July 7 (Ticker) -- Lisa Leslie made sure her 32nd birthday would be a happy one by bailing out the Los Angeles Sparks.

Lisa Leslie scored the winning bucket in the Sparks win. Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE/Getty Images

Leslie's game-winning layup with 4.4 seconds left spoiled a furious second-half comeback by the Phoenix Mercury and gave the Sparks their ninth victory in 11 games, 73-71.

The Mercury led 71-69 when Delisha Milton-Jones' basket tied the game with 59 seconds remaining. On the ensuing possession Phoenix missed a shot, but retained the ball out of bounds. However, Sparks rookie Laura Macchi stole the inbounds pass from Anna DeForge with 25 seconds left to set up the winning basket.

The Sparks ran a flawless high screen-and-roll for Leslie, who ran uncontested down the lane, caught Nikki Teasley's pass and banked the ball off the right side of the backboard.

Phoenix went for the win, but rookie Diana Taurasi's long 3-pointer misfired as time expired.

Leslie finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds while Mwadi Mabika scored 13 of her 14 points in the first half to lead Los Angeles.

Taurasi scored 25 points and Penny Taylor added 22 as the Mercury used a 14-0 run to rally from a 12-point deficit midway through the second half.