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Nneka Ogwumike of the Sparks goes to the basket against Damiris Dantas in the first quarter. (Katelyn Mulcahy / Getty Images)
For the first time in two weeks, the Sparks won a game.
Nneka Ogwumike scored 24 points with eight rebounds and Rae Burrell added 22 points in what felt like a near must-win 106-92 effort against Indiana on Wednesday night to snap a three-game losing streak.
The Fever committed 17 turnovers, which the Sparks (9-11) converted into 22 points, and star Caitlin Clark scored her second-fewest point total this season with just nine in limited minutes. Kelsey Mitchell scored 29 points for the Fever, but the Sparks seemed to have an offensive answer each time.
Indiana (12-9) was without star center Aliyah Boston (lower right leg), whom Fever coach Stephanie White said would play in their second game of a back-to-back Thursday in Phoenix. Clark, who has been in and out of the lineup with a back injury all season, never got going and was an abysmal minus-16.
All five Sparks starters scored in double digits.
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Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever talks with teammates during the second quarter. (Katelyn Mulcahy / Getty Images)
The Sparks rode a 10-0 run midway through the second quarter to lead by as much as eight before the half.
They didn’t slow down going into the third frame, opening with 18 points in the first five minutes to take a 14-point lead. Burrell and Kiana Williams hit consecutive threes late in the third after the Fever had cut the lead to eight points, and it was never close again.
All-Star guard Kelsey Plum (lower left leg) and center Cameron Brink (left ankle) remained out of the lineup and the Sparks extended their bench to give significant minutes to Alissa Pili, Jihyun Park and Williams.
Read more:Kelsey Plum out at least 10 games with leg injury as Sparks suffer a blow
Pili, signed to a developmental deal with the Sparks earlier this week, scored four points with five rebounds in her first WNBA action since last September due to a right ankle injury.
Wednesday’s win also snapped a three-game losing streak to the Fever dating back to last season.
The Sparks will complete their three-game homestand against Chicago (7-14) on Friday.
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
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