INDIANAPOLIS -- The Sparks finally got over that hump.
Early on, it was turnover after turnover for the Sparks. Then in the final period, with the Fever leading by 10, the Sparks played possibly their best fourth quarter this season. And they actually did not have a single turnover in that period. The Sparks snapped their four-game losing streak and defeated the Fever, 85-75.
The Sparks outscored the Fever (7-8), who did not have Caitlin Clark active due to a groin injury, in the fourth, 35-17. Azurá Stevens and Kelsey Plum took over late as they led the Sparks comeback in Indianapolis.
"They were up, 60-50," Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said. "And in the past, you know recently, we've gotten a little... panicking is not the word I'd use... but just a little down. And tonight, we didn't hiccup. They stayed in, just the connectedness in the huddles and everything in the timeouts was different. And so I agree with (Plum). This is a good growing up game for us in terms of realizing what we need to do for us to play like that."
The Fever went to a small line-up in the fourth and the Sparks made them pay.
"I think we talked about just exploiting the mismatch," Stevens said, who scored 14 points in the fourth. "They went small. I just credit the team and coach. We really made an emphasis to just pound it inside and we got great looks. So it was a great team effort and great communication just to exploit that mismatch."
While the Sparks shot 50 percent (29/58) in the game, their fourth quarter was nearly flawless, going 11 for 14 (.786) in the final 10 minutes. Stevens ruled the paint while Plum played an inside-outside game that baffled the Fever. And as mentioned, while the Sparks had 19 turnovers in the game, they did not give away the ball in the fourth.
"I think anytime you come with a win on the road in this league, you got to celebrate it, right? And I think it's a building block. I thought we grew up tonight," Plum said. "I think for us, it's just about stacking games, stacking that confidence, and really just collective, like a flow. And I thought tonight, when things didn't necessarily go our way, we stayed together. And I was just really proud of everyone, you know, because it's very easy to fall apart on the road.
"Maybe you're getting some questionable calls. And yeah, it was just, it was really awesome. And I think for us, we're going to continue to build off of that and try to get a run going here."
Stevens led Los Angeles with 23 points while Plum had 21 points and six assists. Dearica Hamby and Rickea Jackson each had 14. On the Fever's side, Kelsey Mitchell led them with 20 points. Ex-Spark Aari McDonald came off the bench to score 14 while Aliyah Boston scored 12 points, grabbed 10 boards, and picked five pockets, which is a career-best.
The Sparks are now 5-11 and will continue to be in a celebratory mood. They will go home to face the Chicago Sky on Sunday and will retire Candace Parker's jersey on that afternoon.