ARLINGTON, Tex. -- It looked like the Los Angeles Sparks were going to win this game in a blowout.
Instead, the Dallas Wings exploded for 40 fourth-quarter points, overcoming a 19-point deficit on their way to a 113-110 victory on Sunday.
Once again, it was the fourth quarter that was the Sparks' undoing. It has been their Achilles' heel all season long.
"It's 40 points (in the fourth quarter for Dallas)," Miller said. "We didn't get any stops. We shot 60 percent for the game, 50 percent from the arc and didn't win. And got to the foul line 26 times.
"Our turnovers, while a few that we'd love to have back in the fourth quarter, weren't extremely high, either (14 turnovers). But all game long, we were worried about the runs that they could go on and that we know they're capable of. And the challenge at the beginning of the fourth quarter was really looking at all five people that were starting the quarter and talking about how important these first two or three minutes were to set the tone when we had a big lead."
The Sparks were outscored, 40-18, in the fourth. The Sparks led by as many as 22 points in the second half and led by 19 entering the fourth quarter.
Odyssey Sims returned to Dallas for the first time since leaving the Wings and had a team-high 26 points and 10 assists.
"It's the same approach as any other game," Sims said. "I just wanted to win.
"These ones hurt because we were leading. Credit to Dallas, they turned it up on us tremendously in the fourth quarter."
Rickea Jackson got off to a fast start, scoring 16 of her career-high 25 points in the first period.
"I had some stuffed French toast this morning," she said, "so I guess I'll start eating those before every game and see what happens."
On a more serious note, Jackson said she's unsure why she's not getting more discussion for rookie of the year.
"That's a good question for the media," Jackson said. "I don't know. I can't tell them what to do, what to post. I'm a pretty chill, laidback person and I feel like I don't have to force that down.
"I don't have to do too much. I'm just true to who I am. The people who follow me, the people who support me, they know me for me. I feel like I don't have to grab all this attention and things like that. I'm just me and I'm just going to continue to be that."
Coach Miller said Jackson has a high ceiling.
"It's not a surprise how good she is out of the gate in the first quarter before defenses settle in," Miller said. "Rickea's challenge is play when she's fatigued, play when people are turned up and trying to take away her as the No. 1 option."
The Sparks (6-24) have lost seven straight games while the Wings (7-22) get their first W post-Olympic break. Arike Ogunbowale had her most efficient game against the Sparks as she went for 33 points in 10 for 21 shooting.
Natasha Howard scored 30 points while Teaira McCowan made clutch buckets in the closing minutes on her way to a 17-point, 11-round night.
Dearica Hamby scored 21 points to join Jackson and Sims as Sparks that scored 20 or more points. This was also the first time the Sparks scored more than 100 points in a game since Sep. 5, 2019.
The Sparks will play next at home on Wednesday as they get ready for the New York Liberty.