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  Saturday, Jul. 15 10:30pm ET
Leslie's brilliance saves Sparks from letdown
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Ticker) -- All-Star Lisa Leslie and Tamecka Dixon made sure there would not be another letdown by the Los Angeles Sparks.

Lisa Leslie
Lisa Leslie, Sparks rise above sinking Minnesota

Leslie scored 24 points and grabbed 13 rebounds and Dixon made two free throws with 1.3 seconds remaining as the Sparks pulled out a 58-57 victory over the struggling Minnesota Lynx.

Los Angeles came into the game on an emotional high after Friday's victory over three-time WNBA champion Houston in which it trailed by 15 points in the second half. That was preceded by a loss to the expansion Portland Fire, which handed the Sparks their first home defeat this season.

It almost appeared Los Angeles was heading down the same path it took against Portland. Leslie hit two free throws with 12 seconds left to give the Sparks a 56-55 lead but Betty Lennox hit a jumper to give the Lynx a one-point lead with 6.9 seconds remaining.

After Los Angeles called a 20-second timeout, Dixon was fouled in the lane by Maylana Martin, who sank both free throws to put the Sparks ahead.

All-Star Mwadi Mabika made sure the Lynx would not get off a shot before the buzzer by stealing a pass from Kate Paye.

Free throws were the difference down the stretch. The Sparks were 16-of-16 from the line overall and sank eight in the final 9 1/2 minutes, when they were held without a basket.

Lennox scored 21 points for Minnesota, which stumbles into the All-Star break with six consecutive losses.
 


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RECAPS
Charlotte 76
Washington 73

Cleveland 79
Indiana 55

Utah 75
Sacramento 69

Los Angeles 58
Minnesota 57