Sparks fail to close out series against the Sky

Courtney Vandersloot scored 17 points and the Chicago Sky held off the Los Angeles Sparks, 70-66, on Sunday to force a Game 4 in the WNBA semifinals.

Imani Boyette added 13 points and Clarissa Dos Santos had 10 for the fourth-seeded Sky, who have been playing without leading scorer and rebounder Elena Delle Donne. The 2015 league MVP underwent right thumb surgery on Sept. 13.

League MVP Nneka Ogwumike had 16 of her 22 points in the first half and Kristi Toliver added 13 for the second-seeded Sparks, who won the first two games of the series at home by double digits.

The Sky shot 41.7% from the field to Los Angeles’ 36.6%.

Two-time MVP Candace Parker shot three for 14 from the field for nine points and league sixth woman of the year Jantel Lavender finished with six points for the Sparks.

Defending champion and top-seeded Minnesota has a 2-0 lead over Phoenix in the other semifinal series, with Game 3 later Sunday. The Lynx are aiming for their fourth title in six years.

Ogwumike hit a layup for a 57-56 Sparks lead with 5:11 left for her first points since the second quarter. Kristi Toliver came up with the steal and hit both free throws to give the Sparks a one-point lead with 2:00 left before Boyette answered with a layup.

Toliver made a three-pointer, but Boyette’s layup tied the score with 1:14 left. Boyette made another layup and Vandersloot hit a jumper for a four-point lead. Ogwumike missed a three-pointer with eight seconds left, and Vandersloot made two free throws to seal the victory.

The Sky opened the third quarter with a 17-6 run to take the lead. Boyette scored seven points and Jessica Breland added six in the quarter for a 49-47 Sky lead going into the final quarter. Ogwumike and Parker were scoreless in the third.

The Sparks led by 15 in the first half, but the Sky scored the final six points of the second quarter to pull within nine at halftime.

Ogwumike scored 12 points and the Sparks shot 60% from the field to take a 23-14 lead after the first quarter. After the Sky scored the game’s first two points, the Sparks went on a 9-0 run and didn’t trail again.

Los Angeles routed the Sky, 95-75 and 99-84, in the other games in the series. The Sparks have won five of their six meetings this season.