Sparks 81 - 79 Fever
Final
  for this game

Sparks-Fever Preview

Aug 25, 2015 - 4:52 PM The Indiana Fever are surging toward the top of the Eastern Conference.

They'll look for a seventh straight win Wednesday night when they try to knock off the visiting Los Angeles Sparks for the second time in eight days.

Indiana (17-9) has won nine of 10 as it seeks its first first-place finish since 2011. The Fever have pulled within one game of the East-leading New York Liberty, whom they defeated 80-79 on Sunday. They close their season by hosting New York on Sept. 13.

"The focus we have now, just the intensity we have, it's fun," Tamika Catchings, who leads the team with 13.0 points per game, told the team's official website. "It's fun to be a part of."

Catchings led five double-digit scorers with 14 points Sunday.

"We shared the basketball extremely well," coach Stephanie White said. "We have five players in double figures. We had tremendous balance."

The Fever, who own the league's best 3-point percentage at 36.6, were 7 of 15 from long distance and have shot 43.1 percent from deep over their last three games. The Sparks' 30.2 3-point percentage ranks last in the WNBA.

Indiana shot just 36.8 percent from the floor in a 79-68 win at Los Angeles on Aug. 18, but compensated by going 10 of 19 from beyond the arc compared to the Sparks' 1-for-13 clip. Catchings scored 20.

The Sparks (10-17) rebounded from that setback with a win at Phoenix and a 90-59 blowout victory Sunday at San Antonio, shooting 54.4 percent with 28 assists. They've built a comfortable three-game lead over Seattle for the West's final playoff spot.

Jantel Lavender had 22 points and a career-high five blocks Sunday while Candace Parker added 20 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists. Parker has recorded five straight double-doubles and is averaging 23.0 points in her last four.

Parker had 25 points, 10 rebounds, a franchise-record eight steals and six assists in last week's meeting.

Nneka Ogwumike has missed three straight games for Los Angeles due to concussion-like symptoms and her status is uncertain.

The Fever have won eight in a row at home, while the Sparks have won four of five on the road after an 0-8 start. Los Angeles has also won its last three trips to Indiana.






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