CLEVELAND — Lisa Leslie scored 14 points in the second half and the Los Angeles Sparks rallied for a 79-71 win Tuesday night over Cleveland, spoiling the Rockers' WNBA season opener and LeBron James' visit.
Leslie finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds, Tamecka Dixon had 18 points and Nikki Teasley 16 for the two-time defending champion Sparks, who trailed by 13 in the second half.
Los Angeles was down 46-33 with 17:58 left, but with Dixon scoring from the outside and Leslie powering inside for easy baskets, the Sparks came back.
Betty Lennox scored 23 points in her debut for Cleveland but she couldn't stop the Rockers from losing their 10th straight at Gund Arena. A crowd of 14,061, including high school star and Cavalier-to-be James, was in attendance.
James, wearing a Cavaliers' No. 34 throwback jersey, watched the game from Cavs owner Gordon Gund's private suite.