Late Spurt Gives Sparks Road Win Over the Sting

The Sparks turned to their reserves to get their first win.

Jessica Moore’s driving layup with 43 seconds left put Los Angeles in front, and the Sparks scored the last seven points in a 72-65 victory over the Charlotte Sting on Tuesday night.

The Sparks avoided their first 0-2 start since 1997 despite being without last season’s leading scorer Chamique Holdsclaw, starting guards Mwadi Mabika and Temeka Johnson and then star Lisa Leslie for the final two minutes after she fouled out.

“I talked in the preseason and in practice that everyone has to be ready,” Sparks Coach Joe Bryant said. “We had a rookie [Brandi Davis] in there, we had Jessica Moore, who got cut from [Charlotte] in there. And [Tamara Moore] had tried out for like six or seven teams and never made it.”

The Sting rallied from an 11-point deficit, tying the score on rookie Monique Currie’s steal and layup with 56 seconds left. But Moore’s transition basket put the Sparks ahead, 67-65. The Sting missed three shots in the final minute.

Leslie had 27 points and 16 rebounds but fouled out when the Sparks (1-1) had a five-point lead.

Mabika was a late scratch with a sore knee. Johnson played only 10 minutes before leaving with a strained right quadriceps.

* WNBA BOX SCORES, D8