Tulsa Shock Loses Heartbreaker To Sparks

Kristi Toliver's 3-pointer at the buzzer gave the Los Angeles Sparks a 76-75 victory over the Tulsa Shock on Tuesday night.

Temeka Johnson made two free throws with 7.4 seconds left to give Tulsa a 75-71 lead. Toliver made a turnaround jumper to make it a 2-point game. Tulsa's Karima Christmas then missed two free throws to give the Sparks a chance.

Toliver drove down the left side and put up the game-winner over Ivory Latta.

Toliver and DeLisha Milton-Jones both scored 16 points and rookie Nneka Ogwumike added 14 for the Sparks, who won despite committing 28 turnovers. Toliver, a point guard, had 14 turnovers. Candace Parker finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Reserve Riquna Williams scored 19 points for Tulsa, which lost its eighth straight dating to last season.

Johnson hit a 3-pointer to give Tulsa a 70-69 lead and then made four free throws over the final 20.1 seconds, the last two putting the Shock up 75-71

Tulsa has trouble closing games. The Shock lost to Washington on Saturday despite going on a 14-0 run in the fourth quarter and to Phoenix last Tuesday, again in the final seconds.

Williams scored eight of Tulsa's 19 points in the third quarter as the Shock took a 55-52 lead. Her 3-pointer -- the last of three consecutive field goals -- gave the Shock its first lead, 45-44.

Los Angeles opened the game on an 11-0 run but the Shock managed to get within 40-36 at halftime. Latta made a 3-pointer to cap a 10-2 run and the Shock held the Sparks to two field goals over the final 5 minutes of the first half.