LOS ANGELES — Nneka Ogwumike scored 20 points, Destanni Henderson had a career-high 18 points off the bench and the Sparks rallied from 17 points down to beat the Dallas Wings, 76-74, on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena.
The Sparks took their first lead with 2:28 left in the fourth quarter on a pair of free throws by Chiney Ogwumike. Dallas went back ahead on a pair of free throws by Natasha Howard with 1:49 left, but Sparks guard Jordina Canada answered with a floater to tie the score on the ensuing possession.
Canada, who finished with 18 points, six assists and three steals, then made two free throws with 54.1 seconds left for a 76-74 lead and the Wings had a shot-clock violation at the other end for their 18th turnover. Canada had a jumper rattle out and Dallas secured the rebound and raced the other way, but Crystal Dangerfield’s runner at the buzzer did not hit the rim.
Nneka Ogwumike scored 14 of her 20 in the second half and finished 9 for 18 from the field to go with seven rebounds and three steals as the Sparks (6-7) snapped their three-game losing streak.
The Sparks missed their first 10 3-point attempts and finished 2 for 18 from long range, but they made 22 of 25 free throws compared to 13 for 17 for Dallas. Canada was 8 for 8 from the foul line and added three steals.
Natasha Howard had 23 points and 12 rebounds for Dallas (6-7). Arike Ogunbowale scored 12 of her 16 points in the first quarter and Satou Sabally had 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Ogunbowale’s strong start helped Dallas build a 27-10 lead, but Henderson, who is with the Sparks on a temporary hardship contract, responded by scoring 10 pivotal points over the next 11 minutes, which included two three-point plays and a buzzer-beating layup, to cut Dallas’ lead to 42-33 at halftime.
The Sparks continued battling back in the third quarter. Chiney Ogwumike tied the score at 58 with a three-point play with 14.9 seconds left in the third quarter, but a buzzer-beating layup by Dallas…
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