The Los Angeles Sparks return home Friday, looking to rebound from a loss when they host a Chicago Sky side aiming for their third consecutive win.

Chicago (5-3) scored its season high on Tuesday in a 108-103 defeat of Indiana. The Sky scored 29 points in the fourth quarter to force overtime, then kept their offense rolling with another 17 in the extra frame.

Marina Mabrey set the pace with 28 points, Kahleah Copper scored 24 points and Alanna Smith finished with 18 points, including the overtime-forcing layup as time expired.

Dana Evans, who scored 20 points off the bench, was showered with praise by Sky coach James Wade.

“When Dana came in, our level rose — and that’s what she’s done for us every game this year,” Wade said postgame. “She’s a big part of our identity and why we’re able to play the way we’re able to play.”

Tuesday’s win followed Chicago’s 86-82 win at New York on Sunday.

Los Angeles (3-3) comes into Friday off a much different contest. The Sparks lost on the road Tuesday to previously winless Seattle in a defensive battle, 66-63.

Los Angeles stormed ahead 24-6 through the first quarter and built a lead of as many as 21 points. However, 23 turnovers and disparities of 11-0 in second-chance points and 15-2 in fast-break points doomed the Sparks in their pursuit of a third straight win. The Sparks had just defeated the Storm three nights earlier in L.A., 92-85.

“It’s human to get a lead like that and start feeling comfortable,” Nneka Ogwumike said postgame. “There was a little bit of a cushion that led to a little bit of complacency. So we got a little bit loose with the ball, and they were forcing turnovers and getting into transition.

“It makes it hard to be playing defense in transition the whole night,” she added.

In spite of Tuesday’s struggles with ball control, Los Angeles ranks in the upper half of the WNBA for turnovers per game at 12.8. Chicago is just behind the Sparks, averaging 13.0 per contest.

–Field Level Media