Fever-Sparks Preview

By ALAN FERGUSON
Posted Aug 20 2012 3:40PM

The Los Angeles Sparks are riding their longest win streak in three years but will next face a team that gave them one of the stiffest challenges during that run.

The Sparks will try to earn a seventh consecutive victory in their return to Staples Center on Tuesday night while recording a season sweep of the Indiana Fever.

While it might have been the cause for a slow start Saturday, the Olympic break ultimately wasn't enough to cool off Los Angeles (16-6), which won 82-71 in Seattle in its first game since July 12.

Kristi Toliver, averaging 21.8 points during the six-game win streak, scored a team-best 22 on 9-of-11 shooting. Alana Beard had 18 points while making seven of 10 shots, and rookie Nneka Ogwumike and Candace Parker provided double-doubles.

"I think it was natural that we would have at least a little bit of rust in the first half," Toliver said. "We hadn't played in a long time. I think we responded well and hopefully we can take a little bit of this momentum against Indiana on Tuesday."

Los Angeles might need all of that momentum during the visit from the Fever (12-7), who nearly defeated the Sparks in Indianapolis in both clubs' final game before the Olympics.

Indiana held a one-point lead with 1:32 remaining but was kept off the scoreboard the rest of the way in a 77-74 defeat. Tamika Catchings missed a potential tying 3-pointer at the buzzer and Erlana Larkins failed to convert a pair of free throws.

Ogwumike, meanwhile, had 22 points and a career-high 20 rebounds, including a league-record 12 offensive boards.

That victory has helped the Sparks enter this game on their longest win streak since Aug. 15-25, 2009. They haven't won seven straight since an eight-game run June 7-25, 2006, but might be in the right place to realize that goal.

Los Angeles has won nine of 11 all-time home games against Indiana but hasn't swept the season series since 2006.

The Fever will try to thwart that attempt while extending their own win streak to three. They've won by a combined 32 points in their first two games back from the break.

Katie Douglas scored a season-high 29 points and tied a franchise record with seven 3-pointers during the latest win, 86-72 over Atlanta on Saturday.

Douglas averaged 10.3 points on 28.5 percent shooting over her previous seven games.

"It's about time. It's a good feeling," Douglas said. "My teammates just found a way to get me the ball and I was able to step up and knock down shots. And that's my role."

The Fever are starting a three-game Western road trip while Los Angeles is opening a three-game homestand.

Toliver, Sparks beat Fever for 7th straight win

Posted Aug 22 2012 1:17AM

LOS ANGELES (AP) Kristi Toliver scored 21 points to lead all five starters in double-digit scoring as the Los Angeles Sparks beat the Indiana Fever 79-69 Tuesday night for their seventh straight victory.

Candace Parker scored 15 points, DeLisha Milton-Jones and Nneka Ogwumike each had 12 and Alana Beard added 10 for the Sparks (17-6). Los Angeles is on its longest winning streak since an eight-game run June 7-25, 2006.

Katie Douglas led the Fever (12-8) with 22 points and Tamika Catchings added 16.

Douglas made a jumper to bring Indiana to 73-66 with 2:25 remaining. Parker scored on a turnaround out of a Los Angeles timeout but Catchings banked in a shot inside on the next possession.

Indiana pulled to 75-69 on a free throw and rebounded Beard's missed shot in the lane but turned it over on the trip down the court. Toliver scored on a layup for a 77-69 lead to put it out of reach with a pair of free throws with 16.1 seconds remaining.

Indiana was held to 34 percent shooting. Catchings had only eight points through three quarters before her spurt late in the fourth quarter and had only two rebounds.

The Sparks led by double digits from midway through the first quarter until the final minute of the third, when the Fever twice pulled to seven points down. Douglas made a pair of free throws and a 3-pointer on the next possession to finish an 11-point third quarter, and Sasha Goodlett scored a layup inside to bring Indiana to 62-55 at the end of the third.

The Sparks shot 58 percent from the field, including five 3-pointers, in the first half for a 41-28 lead. Toliver and Beard combined for four 3-pointers, including one by Beard just before halftime. The frontcourt of Catchings and Douglas went a combined 5 for 17 in the first half.

The Sparks dominated the first quarter with an 18-0 run after Briann January opened the scoring with a 3-pointer. Ogwumike finished an eight-point, four -rebound first quarter on a pretty ball fake and finger roll for a 20-6 lead.

Indiana missed 10 of its first 11 field goals and was stuck on three points until Douglas made a 3-pointer with 3:19 remaining in the first quarter.

• Fever: --
• Sparks: --

• Fever: Dunn
• Sparks: --

• Lead Changes: 1
• Times Tied: 0

• Arena: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
• Officials: #45 Tom Mauer, #55 Eric Brewton, #34 Maj Forsberg
• Attendance: 8402
• Duration: 2:03