Gray, Ogwumike lead Sparks past Sky, 84-81

Aug 12, 2020, 07:24 am

LOS ANGELES -- Chelsea Gray scored seven of her 26 points in the final 1:25 and the Los Angeles Sparks overcame a 16-point deficit to beat the Chicago Sky 84-81 on Sunday.

Nneka Ogwumike had 17 points and 13 rebounds, and Maria Vadeeva added 12 points for the Sparks (15-8). Los Angeles has won five in a row overall and eight straight at home.

Chelsea Gray hit a 3 and, after a basket by Chicago's Cheyenne Parker, made a jumper to cut L.A.'s deficit to 81-80 with a minute left. The Sky committed a shot-clock violation before Gray made two foul shots to make it 82-81 with 29.5 seconds remaining. Allie Quigley missed a 3 on the other end, Gray grabbed the rebound and Ogwumike made a layup to cap the scoring with 5.7 seconds left.

Quigley led the Sky (14-10) with 20 points. Parker added 19, and Diamond DeShields had 16.

All-Star point guard Courtney Vandersloot did not play for Chicago because of an illness.

The Sky scored 14 of the first 18 points and opened a 20-6 lead when DeShields hit a pull-up jumper late in the first quarter. Los Angeles slowly closed the gap, scored the final three points of the third and Maria Vadeeva converted a 3-point play to open the fourth and give the Sparks their first lead at 62-61.