Gray lifts the Sparks over Sky

All-star point guard scores game-high 26 points as hosts win eighth in nine games.

All-Star scores team-high 26 points in 84-81 victory.

A 14-point deficit less than eight minutes in isn’t exactly how the Sparks drew up their fifth straight victory. Neither was a 16-point deficit in the second quarter, or a combined 47 fouls and 48 turnovers.

Despite a sloppy start, the Sparks rebounded to beat the Chicago Sky 84-81 at Staples Center on Sunday for their eighth win in nine games.

“They came out and they punched us,” said Sparks forward Candace Parker, who had eight points and five assists. “They punched us first.”

The Sparks (15-8) had an answer. They began to chip away at the lead in the second quarter. A floater from All-Star Nneka Ogwumike with 3.5 seconds remaining capped a 9-0 run that put the Sparks within five points headed into halftime.

“Obviously, not a good start,” said Ogwumike, who had her 11th double-double of the year with 17 points and 12 rebounds. “Not even a good half. But for us to be able to regroup, make our run, get some stops and convert on those stops, it was good.”

It wasn’t until the fourth quarter when the Sparks finally held a lead. On their first offensive possession of the final frame, second-year center Maria Vadeeva finished in traffic while drawing the foul. Her free throw gave Los Angeles a 62-61 lead. Vadeeva, who played only 11 minutes 25 seconds because of a crowded frontcourt rotation, made the most of her time scoring 12 points on five-for-six shooting with five rebounds. Her clutch bucket started a thrilling fourth quarter.

The teams alternated leads seven times, with neither squad able to gain any separation. Despite the impressive comeback, it looked as if the Sparks would fall short when Allie Quigley (20 points) splashed in a deep three to give the Sky a 79-75 lead with less than two minutes remaining.

Enter the Sparks’ closer, All-Star point guard Chelsea Gray. Gray answered with a three with 1:25 remaining. Following a Cheyenne Parker bucket, Gray went to work again, hitting a pull-up midrange jumper to cut the lead to one.

The Sparks’ defense, which forced 25 turnovers, buckled down and caused a shot-clock violation. With a chance to take the lead, Gray called her own number once more. Taking multiple Sky defenders off the dribble, Gray got to the rim and earned a pair of free throws. She calmly made both, giving Los Angeles an 82-81 lead.

“The play was kind of designed just to have the ball in my hands to make decisions,” said Gray, who finished with a game-high 26 points.