SPARKS NOTES:
– The Sparks shot 17-33 (51.5%) in the first half
– Jantel Lavender recorded a season-high 19 points in the first half
– Candace Parker finished with 24 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists
– The Sparks shot 32-70 (45.7%) from the field for the game
– The Sparks were held to just 4-18 (22.2%) from behind the 3-point line
– Jantel Lavender was perfect from the line, going 7-7
– Nneka Ogwumike was scratched from the lineup with an illness
– Los Angeles outscored the Fever in the paint 44-26
– The Sparks had just two fast break points

Fever NOTES:
– The Fever shot 15-38 (39.5%) from the field in the first half
– The Fever shot 31-72 (43.1%) from the field for the game
– Indiana outscored Los Angeles 29-14 in the third quarter
– Indiana snapped a five-game losing streak with their win tonight
– The 15-point lead was Indiana’s second-largest lead of the season
– Cappie Pondexter has scored in double figures in five of seven games since joining the Fever
– Cappie Pondexter’s five assists were a season high

Quotes:

Sparks Center Jantel Lavender

On her strong offensive performance

“I was just trying to run the floor and get position early. Running the floor in transition obviously gets us a lot of easy baskets, but I guess just being comfortable early. Getting run outs, getting shots early to find a rhythm, and it just came easy because I felt it early.”

On what changed for the team in the second half

“Obviously our team has to play with a purpose, and down the stretch we want to go to certain people. With my scoring in the first half I think that I can keep us in the game, but I guess down the line we want to have the game in Candace’s hands and Chelsea’s hands.”

On trying to be more aggressive on offense

“I don’t know if this is going for the interview but I think it’s difficult for players to find rhythms shooting four or five shots. That’s not any shade to anybody, but for me I’m a rhythm player, so having a feel for the game, being in there, getting touches, being looked for a little bit, is usually kind of how I find my rhythm. A lot of times I myself like standing on the corners a lot. So just kind of diving in, getting rebounds, getting offensive rebound put-backs that will help me to get in that rhythm and find a rhythm so that I can be effective for the team.”

Sparks Guard Alana Beard

On preparing for a game against Cappie Pondexter

“No, no emotions whatsoever. We’re at a level where everything is extremely professional. We understand that it is a business. Cappie came in and had a tremendous game. She did what Cappie does, so we weren’t surprised by anything. She’s in a system now where she is able to flow, and she’s playing the game that she likes to play.”

On trying to lead on the bench versus on the court

“No different than what I normally do. Obviously you’re not on the court, and I think you have a different type of feeling, you’re in touch a little bit more when you’re on the court. But as I’ve mentioned many times, we have a lot of players on this team and everyone leads in their own way. I’m just doing it from a different angle right now and it’s no big deal.”

Fever Forward Candice Dupree

On last play of the game to hold off the Sparks

“We just have to know time and score—maybe just hold on to it knowing they are going to foul you, go to the free throw line, and make two free throws. We were just trying to run the clock by keeping the ball moving, but at that point, you just have to play it safe. [Candace] Parker missed that layup and it worked in our favor, so we’ll take the win.” On team playing its best basketball against the best teams in the WNBA “We know what we’re capable of in this locker room; it’s just about consistency. I don’t think we’ve done a great job of being consistent all season long. We’ve been trying to put 40-minute games together and I thought we did that tonight.”

Fever Guard Cappie Pondexter

On being back in Los Angeles and playing her best basketball since being released
“When you have opportunity, good things happen for you. I love playing the game of basketball and Pokey [Chatman] has given me the chance to do that. It feels good to be back home; I slept in my own bed for a change. That doesn’t happen often, so it’s good to be back in my comfort zone. We leave on the road, we go to Vegas. It feels good to pick up our third victory, and I’m hoping we can do the same in Vegas and [head into the All-Star break] on a winning way.”

On Fever’s dominant third quarter led by Pondexter and Candice Dupree

“We’re just playing basketball, doing something we love to do. We work so many hours doing the particular things that are our expertise. The girls were pushing it and I was getting wide open shots. We were just having fun out there. We were just trying to get our third win. I want to credit that second unit that came in in the second quarter. They gave us so much momentum going into halftime and Erica [Wheeler] and I were able to rest our legs.”

On being a leader and increased minutes with the Fever

“I was a veteran in Los Angeles, the only difference was I wasn’t able to play, so I couldn’t produce. Now, I’m able to play and produce, so it’s the same thing really.”

Fever Coach Pokey Chatman

On team’s third win this season

“Obviously when you’ve struggled the way we’ve struggled all year, it’s nice to get any win. We didn’t quite close it out
in the fashion that left anything to be desired, and it was a nail-biter at the end but overall, we handled their runs.”

On the decision to sign Cappie Pondexter

“That was easy. I traded for Cappie when she was in Chicago. She’s a savvy vet, she has a little bit of dog in her, she’s not
afraid of moments. And we have some babies that are learning under the lights, and it’s nice to see someone who’s a
veteran, champion player.”