Sparks Make It 14 Out of 15 With 82-66 Victory

A Tamecka Dixon-led 22-5 run midway through the second half carried the Sparks to an 82-66 victory over the New York Liberty on Thursday night at the Great Western Forum before a crowd of 7,269.

The victory, Los Angeles’ third in a row and 14th in 15 games, came against a team that had won six in a row, including a 78-55 victory Wednesday at Seattle.

The Sparks (19-3), playing on five days’ rest, remained half a game behind Western Conference leader Houston, a 74-56 winner at Cleveland.

Dixon, an original Spark from 1997, sizzled for the second consecutive game. Against Minnesota last Saturday, she had 10 points and three assists and played solid defense. New York got more of the same.

She sparked the run that enabled the Sparks to defeat the Liberty (13-10) for the second time this season. She created what arguably might be the most brilliant offensive play of the season.

With 14:20 to play and the Spark run just getting started, Dixon, on a break through traffic, executed a perfect, behind-the-back pass to Mwadi Mabika, who put it in the basket without a dribble. That made the score 53-45 as the Sparks overcame New York’s 40-39 halftime lead.

Dixon had 12 points, four assists and two steals.

The Sparks shot a season-high 60.7%, thanks to 22 fastbreak points, created by L.A.’s aggressive defense.

“We played 38 minutes of pretty good defense, all but the last two minutes of the first half,” Spark Coach Michael Cooper said.

“Tamecka was given another tough defensive assignment and that challenge [guarding Teresa Weatherspoon and then Crystal Robinson] was done so well it opened a lot of offensive opportunities for her.”

The Sparks got a multitude of open shots, thanks to Lisa Leslie’s dominance in the post. One thing is clear after two Spark victories over New York: The Liberty’s Tamika Whitmore and Sue Wicks do not match up against Leslie.

Leslie had 21 points and continued her drive to a possible WNBA rebounding title with 14 boards.

Ukari Figgs, who had nine assists, limited New York markswoman Becky Hammon to only four points.

“We got hit with a buzz saw tonight,” New York Coach Richie Adubato said.

“It was a combination of having played last night in Seattle, our cold shooting and the fact L.A. had five days’ rest. I’m proud of my team. They played hard, hustled to the end. Maybe we can get them again in the playoffs.”

*

Spark playoff tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. Sunday at the Forum box office.