Sportsnaut
Jordin Canada’s two free throws with 54.7 seconds remaining proved to be the difference in the host Los Angeles Sparks’ 76-74 victory over the Dallas Wings on Friday.
Canada finished with 18 points by shooting 5 of 10 from the field and 8 of 8 from the free-throw line. She added six assists and three steals.
Nneka Ogwumike posted with a team-high 20 points to go along with seven rebounds for the Sparks (6-7), who ended a three-game losing streak.
Destanni Henderson added 18 points off the bench for the Sparks, who rallied from a 17-point, first-quarter deficit.
The Wings (6-7), who have dropped four of their past five games, were led by Natasha Howard’s game-high 23 points and 12 rebounds.
Arike Ogunbowale chipped in 16 points for Dallas, while Satou Sabally wound up with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Trailing 58-50 with 1 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter, the Sparks closed on an 8-2 run to pull to within 60-58 entering the final quarter.
Sabally opened the fourth quarter with a three-point play before her short jumper pushed Dallas’ advantage to 65-58 with 8:14 left.
The Sparks countered with a 9-2 run to tie the game at 67 on Henderson’s 3-pointer with 4:56 left.
After Sabally split a pair of free throws to give the Wings a 68-67 lead with 4:09 to go, Henderson did the same to tie the game with 3:38 remaining.
Howard’s layup regained the lead for the Wings, and Nneka Ogwumike’s jumper knotted the score at 70 with a little over three minutes left.
Chiney Ogwumike sank a pair of three throws to give the Sparks their first lead before Crystal Dangerfield’s jumper tied the game at 72 with 2:17 to go.
Howard’s two free throws with 1:49 put Dallas up by two before Canada’s short jumper tied the game with 1:38 to go.
Canada hit two free throws to give the Sparks a 76-74 advantage they wouldn’t relinquish, as Dallas committed a shot-clock violation on its ensuing possession.
Dangerfield missed a running baseline jumper as time expired.
The Wings jumped out to a 16-4 advantage and led 27-10 late in the first quarter en route to taking a 42-33 halftime advantage.
The teams meet again in Los Angeles on Sunday.
–Field Level Media
