Sparks Show They Can Rebound in Many Ways

DeLisha Milton converted a three-point play with 26 seconds left in overtime as the Sparks ended Portland’s franchise-record seven-game winning streak with an 82-76 victory in front of 10,185 Friday night.

Mwadi Mabika scored a career-high 32 points and had six rebounds and six assists for the Sparks (15-3), who bounced back after being blown out in Seattle on Thursday.

Milton finished with a career-high 23 points and 13 rebounds and Marlies Askamp had 11 points and 12 rebounds. The Sparks outrebounded the Fire, 44-31.

“The thing that Pat Riley used to say when I played with the Lakers is, ‘No rebound, no ring.’ We understand that that is the key,” Spark Coach Michael Cooper said. “Both teams played an exceptionally good basketball game.”

Said Milton: “That’s one of our strengths as a team--rebounding on both ends of the floor. When you’re on the road, it’s of the utmost importance to rebound.”

The Sparks were able to force overtime despite the loss of star Lisa Leslie, who fouled out with 6:40 left in regulation. Leslie had seven points.

Sylvia Crawley and DeMya Walker each scored 18 points for the Fire (11-9).

“We played well enough to win it,” Portland Coach Linda Hargrove said. “We had a chance and it’s disappointing that we missed it.”

The game was close throughout, with neither team leading by more than six points. There were 17 ties and 29 lead changes.

“It took everything that we had to pull this one out,” Cooper said. “It’s part of becoming a team to be reckoned with, you have to take some ups and downs in the process of winning.”

The Sparks were without reserves Latasha Byears and Tamecka Dixon.

Dixon missed her second consecutive game after the death of her grandmother.

Byears sat out while serving the first game of a two-game suspension for fighting with Seattle’s Michelle Marciniak on Thursday in a 79-60 loss to the Storm. Byears was also fined $1,000.