It Takes Overtime for Sparks to Prevail

What Lisa Leslie started for the Sparks on Friday night against San Antonio, Mwadi Mabika finished in an 87-80 overtime L.A. victory at Staples Center.

Leslie scored a season-high 23 points before fouling out 1:08 into overtime. And Mabika scored 12 of her 23 points in overtime in front of 8,907.

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It was the fourth game this season, the third time in the last four home games and the second time this week the Sparks had to go past regulation. But the extra sessions have been fruitful; Los Angeles (11-6) is 3-1 in overtime games, and Friday’s victory moved them just percentage points behind Seattle (9-4) for first place in the WNBA’s Western Conference.

The loss was particularly difficult for the Silver Stars (5-12), who, according to their team website, lost their leading scorer Marie Ferdinand for the season because of a dislocated right elbow suffered in the second half.

San Antonio, which had lost to Seattle by 24 on Thursday and was playing back-to-back games for the first time this season, led, 41-37, at halftime.

Leslie’s forced exit in overtime was a controversial one. San Antonio forward LaToya Thomas was assessed her sixth foul a play earlier, but no one caught the officials’ attention long enough to stop play before Leslie was whistled.

Up to that point, Leslie, who had not scored 20 or more points for the Sparks since the season opener for Seattle on May 22, played one of her strongest games on the season. In addition to making nine of 18 shots, she added seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks.

“People are still coming out and playing their best against us,” Leslie said. “Even a team that is last is at their best against us, and tonight the Stars were at their best. We’re being judged because we’re not able to blow out teams. We’re still growing, still building on our team chemistry.”

Mabika could have won the game in regulation when San Antonio Coach Dee Brown was assessed a technical foul with 2.4 seconds to play. But she missed the free throw, and the Sparks, who maintained possession, were unable to get another shot off before time expired.

Then Mabika torched the Silver Stars in the extra session, making six of nine shots.

“I was mad I missed that free throw. That’s why I decided to try and take the game over, take the open shots,” Mabika said.

Injury-wise, San Antonio wasn’t the only team that may have sustained a personnel loss.

First, Ferdinand’s injury occurred when she and teammate Shannon Johnson collided in midair while trying to block a driving layup by Tamecka Dixon with 16:23 left in the second half. Ferdinand was helped off the floor and transported to Centinela Hospital Medical Center for treatment.

Dixon was knocked out of the game with 5:03 remaining after running into the hip of San Antonio 7-foot-2 center Margo Dydek, who was setting a screen. Dixon’s injury was diagnosed as a concussion.

The game represented the halfway point in the season for Los Angeles and, considering the up-and-down nature of the Sparks’ play, Coach Michael Cooper said he was reasonably satisfied with his team’s place in the Western Conference.

“Our shooting is better -- we’re hitting more open shots,” he said. “It’s our team defense that’s been coming along slowly.”