Shorthanded Sparks keep Fever winless, 87-70

May 23, 2018, 02:19 am

INDIANAPOLIS -- Nneka Ogwumike had 25 points and 10 rebounds to help the Los Angeles Sparks beat the Indiana Fever 87-70 on Tuesday night.

Los Angeles, which took over the top spot in the AP WNBA power poll this week, jumped out to a 20-6 lead and it was 50-36 at the half behind 17 points from Ogwumike. Indiana pulled within 67-57 early in the fourth quarter but the Sparks answered with a 9-2 run and led by double figures the rest of the way.

Odyssey Sims added 17 points and Chelsea Gray, who hit a game-winner against defending champion Minnesota on Sunday, scored 12 points for Los Angeles (2-0). Candace Parker missed her second straight game with a back injury.

The Sparks have won 13 of the past 16 regular-season games in the series -- including six of the last eight on the road.

Kelsey Mitchell scored 20 points and Tiffany Mitchell added 14 for Indiana (0-3). Natalie Achonwa, coming off career highs of 21 points and 12 rebounds on Sunday, had six points and eight rebounds in 17 minutes.