PORTLAND — The Sparks capped a busy 24 hours by ending their six-game losing streak.
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Dearica Hamby scored 23 points, Nneka Ogwumike scored 20 of her 22 in the second half and the Sparks – still processing the trade that sent five-time All-Star Kelsey Plum to Phoenix late Saturday night – earned a 106-101 victory over the Portland Fire on Sunday afternoon.
In a move that was somewhat expected, Plum, sidelined since June 21 with a leg injury, was dealt to the Mercury late Saturday night. The Sparks improved to 3-9 without Plum. Plum, a free agent at the end of the season, had reportedly indicated she was not going to re-sign with the Sparks.
Ogwumike hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:25 to play, making it 98-96. Hamby followed with a layup off an Ogwumike assist. In the last 24 seconds Ogwumike and Erica Wheeler went 6 for 6 from the free-throw line to secure the win.
Wheeler, Ariel Atkins, Rae Burrell and reserve Jihyun Park each added 12 points for the Sparks (11-17). Hamby and Ogwumike both had 10 rebounds and Wheeler had eight assists.
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Bridget Carleton hit seven 3-pointers and scored 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Fire (11-19), who lost their fifth straight and allowed 100-plus points for the fourth time in that stretch. Carla Leite added 21 points and eight assists and Megan DiLeo scored 19.
Portland took advantage of four offensive rebounds and six Sparks turnovers to lead 29-22 after one quarter. The lead reached 10 points in the second quarter, and the Fire were up 49-43 at the break.
Wheeler and Ogwumike made back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Sparks a 65-64 lead in the third quarter, their first since it was 10-8. Carleton’s 3-pointer in the last minute pulled the Fire into a 72-72 tie entering the fourth quarter.
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The Sparks continue their three-game trip at Chicago on Wednesday at 6 p.m. PT.