Sparks keep it close but lose to Las Vegas

The Sparks went toe-to-toe with the WNBA’s hottest team Friday but couldn’t hold it off, losing their second straight game to the league-leading Las Vegas Aces.

Los Angeles overcame a 12-point deficit in the second half to take the lead, but couldn’t hold onto it, falling 66-58.

Reigning league MVP Aj’a Wilson led all scorers with 20 points and added 10 rebounds for Las Vegas. The Sparks were able to contain Aces star center Liz Cambage (10 points), but watched Wilson close out the game with five free throws in the fourth quarter.

The Sparks held the offensive powerhouse Aces well below their typical 90-plus points.

“We want to be disruptive, we want to make our opponent uncomfortable,” Sparks coach Derek Fisher said before the game.

The Sparks made their disruptive presence felt with five steals and six blocked shots. Forward Nia Coffey led the effort with four blocks, but went scoreless.

Erica Wheeler (15) and Amanda Zahui B. (14) led the Sparks.

After getting outrebounded by 16 boards in the previous matchup, the Sparks met the challenge, getting edged 34-33 Friday night.

The Los Angeles Convention center got perhaps the loudest it’s been all season with a sold-out crowd of 959. The Aces had beaten the Sparks by more than 20 twice this season before Friday’s game, most recently 48 hours ago.

“Our group at this point, they’re back ready to go tonight and ready to empty the tank,” Fisher said.

They emptied the tank, but it just wasn’t enough.