Hoffman leads Sparks to 74-50 win over Storm
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Reserve forward Ebony Hoffman scored 12 points to lead a balanced offense as the Los Angeles Sparks beat defending champion Seattle 74-50 on Sunday night, snapping a seven-game losing streak to the Storm.
Kristi Toliver scored 11 points and Candace Parker and rookie Jantel Lavender each added 10 for Los Angeles (3-1). The Sparks, who started 1-6 last season, had lost the last five regular season meetings with the Storm, and were swept in the playoffs last year.
Sue Bird scored 15 points to lead Seattle (2-2), which came in allowing a league-low 68.6 points per game. Reigning MPV Lauren Jackson was held to nine points on 3-for-14 shooting.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Sparks led 39-25 at halftime while limiting the Storm to 31 percent shooting from the field — including 2 for 11 on 3-pointers. Seattle got no closer than nine in the second half, trailing by double digits for the final 7 minutes.
DeLisha Milton-Jones' jumper 4:07 into the game gave the Sparks a 7-6 lead and they didn't trail again. Parker's jumper with 3:14 left in the first half stretched the advantage to 33-14.
Neither team scored for the first 3:03 of the third quarter until Jackson converted a free throw on Milton-Jones' technical. Bird's 3-pointer 36 seconds later was the first basket for either team.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Seattle missed its first five shots after the break and had four turnovers. Los Angeles missed its first three shots with two turnovers.
After closing to 43-34 on Jackson's 3 with 4:14 left in the third quarter, Seattle was outscored 31-16 the rest of the way.