Balanced scoring, 3-point flurry helps Indiana pull away from Los Angeles 73-61

Fever’s 3-point flurry holds off Sparks 73-61

INDIANAPOLIS — Ebony Hoffman scored 14 points, and the Indiana Fever matched their season-high with nine 3-pointers to hold off the Los Angeles Sparks 73-61 on Friday night.

Tamika Catchings had 13 points and Katie Douglas added 11 for the Fever (2-2), who won their second straight.

Retiring WNBA star Lisa Leslie led Los Angeles (1-3) with 21 points and 13 rebounds — her first double-double of the season.

Indiana opened the third quarter on a 7-0 run and closed it with a 13-5 flurry to turn an eight-point halftime lead into a 63-44 advantage.

The Sparks didn’t get closer than 12 in the fourth and lost their third straight. Los Angeles leading scorer Betty Lennox appeared to injure her right knee early in the second half.