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LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Lisa Leslie and the Los Angeles Sparks brushed aside one Eastern Conference playoff team before traveling across the country to face another. Leslie collected 21 points and 13 rebounds as the Sparks extended their season-opening winning streak to eight games with a 74-66 victory over the Indiana Fever. Los Angeles has won 17 straight games dating to last season, including a six-game run in the playoffs. The Sparks will hit the road for their next game, Saturday's WNBA Finals rematch with the New York Liberty. Leslie posted her seventh double-double as Los Angeles moved within one win of the best start in franchise history, set two seasons ago. The Sparks also improved to 3-0 at home. Seven straight points by Los Angeles opened a 38-30 lead early in the second half. Indiana cut the deficit to 63-59 on Natalie Williams' layup with 5:09 remaining. Rhonda Mapp and Mwadi Mabika responded with baskets for an eight-point cushion and the lead never dipped below five thereafter. Mabika finished with 12 points and point guard Nikki Teasley handed out 11 assists. Williams scored 18 points and Kelly Schumacher netted 14 for Indiana, which lost its second straight on a West Coast trip. Veteran guard Nikki McCray totaled just two points on 1-of-7 shooting and was benched down the stretch. It also was a rough game for reigning Rookie of the Year Tamika Catchings, who scored 11 points on 4-of-11 shooting. Los Angeles employed some physical defense on Catchings and Leslie knocked her to the floor with 2:20 left. Catchings also survived a hard fall 37 seconds later. |
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