Indiana Fever at Los Angeles Sparks
Thursday, July 27, 2023
Crypto.com Arena | 3:30 p.m. ET

Broadcast Information
Fever Facebook / NBA TV
Pat Boylan (play-by-play), Bria Goss (analyst)

The Indiana Fever will take on the Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday afternoon for the second matchup between the two teams this week. On Tuesday, Indiana fell to Los Angeles, 79-78, after Jordin Canada’s completed three-point field goal gave the Sparks the lead with 3.7 seconds remaining on the clock.

The Fever successfully overcame an 11-point deficit in the third quarter and held the lead for roughly eight minutes in the fourth quarter. Three Indiana players finished the night in double-figures, highlighted by Kelsey Mitchell’s 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the court. Victoria Vivians contributed 17 points and also recorded six rebounds and three assists. Erica Wheeler added 15 points as well as a team-high eight assists.

The Sparks were led by Nneka Ogwumike, who netted a season-high 30 points in the win. Ogwumike also totaled eight rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block. Canada, the scorer of the Sparks’ game-winning shot, contributed 20 points and a season best 10 assists. Center Azura Stevens added 15 points and a game-high three blocks.

With the unfortunate absence of forward NaLyssa Smith for the last four games, Vivians and Emma Cannon have offered an increased presence off the bench. Vivians, who led Indiana in scoring for the first time this season on July 23 against New York, has averaged 11.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per contest while Cannon has averaged 11.5 points and five rebounds per contest through the last four games. Rookie guard Grace Berger has also seen more playing time as she has averaged 6.8 points and three assists in Indiana’s past four matchups.

Los Angeles is guided by Ogwumike who averages team-highs of 20.1 points, 9.3 rebounds and 0.64 blocks per contest. Ogwumike led all scorers on Tuesday as she recorded her 21st double-figure scoring game of the season. Canada follows behind Ogwumike in scoring as she averages 13.1 points per game to go along with team-highs of six assists and 1.7 steals per game.

Probable Starters

Indiana Fever (6-17)

Guard – Kelsey Mitchell (16.7 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 3.2 apg)
Guard – Erica Wheeler (9.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 5.0 apg)
Guard – Lexie Hull (5.9 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.1 spg)
Forward – Victoria Vivians (5.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.6 apg)
Center – Aliyah Boston (14.5 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 1.2 bpg)

Los Angeles Sparks (8-15)

Guard – Lexie Brown (12.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.4 apg)
Guard – Jordin Canada (13.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 6.0 apg)
Forward – Layshia Clarendon (7.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.4 spg)
Forward – Nneka Ogwumike (20.1 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 1.6 spg)
Center – Azura Stevens (8.8 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 0.9 bpg)

Game Status Report

Indiana: NaLyssa Smith – out (left foot stress fracture)
Los Angeles: TBA