Sparks’ home skid reaches five after Sky rallies in 4th quarter for 90-86 victory

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Lindsay Allen scored 16 points, Kamilla Cardoso and rookie Angel Reese posted double-doubles and the Chicago Sky rallied in the fourth quarter to beat Los Angeles 90-86 on Saturday, handing the Sparks their fifth straight loss at home.

Chicago (11-15) trailed 74-64 at the start of the final period, but a turnaround jumper from Allen and a Rachel Banham 3-pointer halved the Sky’s deficit just 61 seconds in. Cardoso followed with a layup as Chicago scored the first seven points. Odyssey Sims answered with a layup for Los Angeles (6-20), but Reese had a layup and Cardoso scored twice inside to give the Sky a 77-76 lead with 6:35 left to play.

Stephanie Talbot pulled the Sparks even at 79 with a 3-pointer at the 4:43 mark. Reese hit 1 of 2 free throws to give Chicago the lead, Michaela Onyenwere followed with a layup and the Sky never trailed again.

Allen made 7 of 11 shots from the floor for Chicago. She added six assists. Cardoso scored 15 points and had 14 rebounds, while Reese tallied 14 points and 11 boards. Banham sank three 3-pointers and scored 14.

Kia Nurse scored 16 to lead the Sparks, who have dropped the last five matchups with the Sky. LA has lost three straight overall. Rickea Jackson and Talbot added 13 points each. Crystal Dangerfield chipped in with 11 points and six assists. Azurá Stevens had 10 points, six rebounds and four assists.

The Sparks took their first lead at 20-18 on a layup by Dearica Hamby with 2:51 left in the first quarter. Chennedy Carter had back-to-back baskets to cap a 6-0 run and help the Sky take a 26-25 lead after one period.

Nurse had 13 points by halftime and her 3-pointer with 4:49 left in the second quarter put the Sparks ahead 35-33. Nurse made five straight free throws for a 43-38 advantage. Chicago pulled within a point twice, but Dangerfield hit a 3-pointer with 10 seconds to go to put LA up 46-42 at intermission.

Banham hit a 3-pointer to begin the third quarter for the Sky, but Stevens answered with one of her own and the Sparks maintained a lead. Dana Evans connected from beyond the arc to pull Chicago within 66-64 with 2:06 left in the period. Talbot had three layups in an 8-0 run and LA took a 10-point lead into the final 10 minutes.

UP NEXT

Chicago: Sky travel to play the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday.

Los Angeles: Sparks hit the road to play the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday.

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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball