Leslie helps Sparks end losing streak

Lisa Leslie had 18 points, 10 rebounds and three assists and the host Los Angeles Sparks beat the Sacramento Monarchs 69-58 Wednesday to end a three-game losing streak.

Mwadi Mabika added 16 points for the Sparks (24-9), who had already clinched the Western Conference regular-season title. Chamique Holdsclaw, who missed the last two games with a foot injury, scored nine points.

“Just for our confidence, we need to get things going again,” Los Angeles coach Joe Bryant said. “If we can go into the playoffs with a few wins and feel good about ourselves, it’s really going to make us better.”

Kara Lawson scored a season-high 18 points for the Monarchs (20-12), whose four-game winning streak ended. DeMya Walker added 12 points.

“If we didn’t have Lawson, we would have done worse,” Sacramento coach John Whisenant said. “Their defense did a good job getting us out of rhythm. They stopped us inside and that left Kara with some shots.”

The Monarchs started slowly, missing 21 of their first 25 shots.

Sun 71, Fever 63: Asjha Jones scored 21 points to lead Connecticut to the victory in Indianapolis.

Indianapolis native Katie Douglas scored 16 points and Taj McWilliams-Franklin had 14 points and 14 rebounds for Connecticut (26-6), which will be the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Indiana (20-12) fell 1 1/2 games behind Detroit (21-10) with two games to play in the race for the second seed.

Tamika Whitmore scored 16 points for Indiana, and Tamika Catchings had 14 points and 12 rebounds, going 3 for 11 from the field.

The Fever led 48-43 midway through the third quarter when the Sun went on an 11-0 run sparked by Douglas, who hit a 3-pointer off a steal.

Indiana had just one field goal in the fourth quarter.