The Fever come from behind to beat the Sparks 78-73 for their first win of the season

Los Angeles Sparks #5 Dearica Hamby (F) driving to the basket from the baseline. Photo by Skylar Blackmon/TGSportstv1.

LOS ANGELES, CA - The Los Angeles Sparks (1-3) continue to struggle with turnovers and committed 18 turnovers to help the Indiana Fever (1-5) come from behind to beat them 78-73 at the Crypto.com Arena.

The arena was buzzing with 19,000 plus fans with the excitement of Caitlin Clark coming to town, shot 4 of 14 from the floor, 2 of 19 from three-point range, scored 11 points, ten rebounds, and eight assists, but dropped two three-pointers that changed the outcome of the game.

One of the concerns I had for the Sparks was their shooting being in the Crypto.com Arena for the first time after playing all their games at Long Beach State and practicing at El Camino College.

My hunch was on points as Lexi Brown struggled shooting, was 2 for 9 from the floor, 0 for seven from three-point range, and five points, and Kia Nurse was 2 for 11 from the floor, 0 for five from three-point range, and with four points.

Los Angeles Sparks #22 Cameron Brink (F) making a spin move in the key on the Indiana Fever #7Aliyah Boston (F) for a layup. Photo by Skylar Blackmon/TGSportstv1.

The bright spot for the Sparks was Dearica Hamby with 18 points and 12 rebounds, Rickea Jackson with 16 points, and Cameron Brink with 15 points and nine rebounds.

Los Angeles led 4-3 in the first quarter after Camron Brink knocked down a jump shot. Caitlin Clark would blow by Sparks defenders for a layup, and Indiana trailed 5-4. Kelsey Mitchell would drive to the basket for a layup, and Indiana now trailing 10-7. The Sparks ended the first quarter leading by seven points, 22-15.

The Fever trailed 22-17 in the second quarter after a jump shot by Clark. Hamby would make a three-pointer to give the Sparks an eight-point lead, 29-21, with 6:22 left before halftime.

Indiana's defense forced Los Angeles to turn the ball over several times, now trailed 37-31 after Aliyah Boston's jump shot. The Sparks would lead by eleven points at halftime, 45-34.

The Sparks continued to struggle on offense in the third quarter, while the Fever found themselves down by just two points, 45-32, with a jump shot by Boston, and their fans were going crazy.

Temi Fagbenle would knock down a three-pointer to give the Fever their first lead, 50-48, and their fans up standing on their feet. The Sparks would tie the game 50-50 with a layup by Aari McDonald.

Rickea Jackson would give the lead back to Los Angeles 52-50 after she pulled up for a jump shot. The Sparks would lead at the end of the quarter 56-53 with two free throws by Jackson.

Indiana would lead 57-56 in the fourth quarter with a bank shot by Boston on the right side of the court. Mitchell would give the Fever a 63-58 lead with a three-pointer from the top of the key.

Brink was trying to keep the Sparks close with a jump shot, now trail 63-60 with 5:21 left in the game. Indiana went up by seven points, 69-62, after a driving layup by Mitchell.

Los Angeles still had life in the game, with 2:51 left on the clock, trailed by three points, 69-66, with a three-pointer by Jackson, and the Sparks fans were standing on their feet and cheering.

Indiana Fever #22 Caitlin Clark (G) knocking down a three-pointer from top of the key against the Los Angeles Sparks #10 Kia Nurse (G). Photo by Skylar Blackmon/TGSportstv1.

It was just a matter of time as Clark, known for three-point shooting, delivered the first blow of a comeback for the Sparks, nailed a three-pointer deep from three-point range to give the Fever a 72-66 lead with 2:27 left in the game.

Los Angeles would trail 73-69 with a three-point shot by Brink. With a minute left in the game, Lexi Brown's jump shot had Los Angeles only down by two points, 73-71.

Clark would come back down the court and launch the final dagger from three-point range as her three-pointer would end any hopes of a comeback by Los Angeles as the Fever now led 76-71.

Mitchell would make free throws in the closing minutes to secure Indiana's first win of the season 78-73, with Mitchell leading the way with 18 points and Erica Wheeler and Boston, each with 17 points.