LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — Jessica Shepard recorded 22 points and 15 rebounds and Paige Bueckers dished out 14 assists as the Dallas Wings defeated the Los Angeles Sparks 104-96 on Friday night at Crypto.com Arena.

The Wings improved to 7-3 while the Sparks fell to 4-6 before a crowd of 12,828.

Shepard, a 6-foot-4 forward from Fremont, Nebraska, played 38 minutes and added five assists. She made eight of 14 field goal attempts and five of six free throws. The performance continued a strong stretch for Shepard, who had 9 points and 8 rebounds against Seattle on June 1, 22 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists against Las Vegas on May 28, and 10 points and 11 rebounds against New York on May 24.

Arike Ogunbowale led all scorers with 30 points for Dallas, adding six rebounds and six assists in 34 minutes. Bueckers scored 18 points on 7-of-15 shooting and grabbed three rebounds in 36 minutes. Maddy Siegrist contributed 16 points off the bench, hitting two 3-pointers and grabbing four rebounds in 24 minutes. Azzi Fudd added 11 points, one rebound and two assists in 35 minutes.

Kelsey Plum paced Los Angeles with 27 points, two rebounds and six assists in 33 minutes. Nneka Ogwumike notched a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, plus five assists. Dearica Hamby scored 15 points with five rebounds. Ariel Atkins added 16 points and five rebounds. Cameron Brink came off the bench for 10 points, five rebounds and a block in 15 minutes.

Dallas controlled the game from the opening tip, but Los Angeles stayed within striking distance until the fourth quarter. The Wings led 24-28 after the first quarter, then outscored the Sparks 30-27 in the second to take a 54-55 halftime lead. Both teams scored 23 in the third, setting up a decisive final period.

The most critical stretch came in the fourth quarter. With Dallas leading 77-78 entering the frame, the Wings seized control with a 12-2 run. Shepard started it with a running layup plus a free throw after a foul by Hamby, making it 81-78. After Siegrist blocked a Brink layup, Bueckers hit a pullup jumper. Ogunbowale then drew a transition take foul, though Plum missed the ensuing free throw. Brink committed an offensive foul, turning the ball over, and Siegrist buried a 3-pointer off a Bueckers assist to push the lead to 90-78. Aziaha James followed with a layup off a Shepard assist, and despite a Plum driving layup, Siegrist answered with a running pullup. The Wings never let the lead slip below eight the rest of the way.

Los Angeles attempted a late rally. Atkins hit a 3-pointer with 3:13 left to cut it to 92-85, but Siegrist answered with another 3 from the wing. Plum made two free throws, but Ogunbowale banked in a jump shot at 1:47. Wheeler converted two free throws for the Sparks, but Bueckers and Ogunbowale each hit free throws in the final minute to seal it.

Key early plays set the tone. In the first quarter, Atkins was whistled for an offensive foul and turnover at 9:51, giving Dallas an extra possession. Bueckers opened the scoring with a 13-foot pullup. Wheeler and Atkins hit 3-pointers for Los Angeles, but Ogunbowale answered with a 3 and Fudd added a driving layup. Plum hit a 3, and Shepard scored inside. The Sparks kept pace, but Dallas closed the quarter with a 10-4 run capped by Ogunbowale’s step-back jumper.

The second quarter saw the Wings build a lead. Atkins hit a 3 early, but Fudd answered from deep. Shepard scored inside, and Siegrist’s putback gave Dallas a 63-61 edge. Plum made free throws, but Fudd knocked down a pullup. Ogunbowale’s driving layup and Shepard’s three-point play extended the lead. A late Ogunbowale basket just before halftime put Dallas up by one.

In the third quarter, the teams traded blows. Fudd scored inside, but Hamby answered. Bueckers hit a pullup, then Plum responded. Ogunbowale made a technical free throw after Ogwumike’s defensive 3-second violation, then buried a 3. Hamby scored on a reverse layup, but Shepard’s inside basket and Ogunbowale’s running jumper kept Dallas ahead. Bueckers’ layup and a 3 from Ogunbowale stretched the lead, but Ogwumike’s 3-pointer and Brink’s free throws kept Los Angeles close. Bueckers’ 3 with 1:50 left in the quarter put Dallas up 82-75, but Ogwumike’s basket trimmed it to 82-77 heading to the fourth.

The Wings’ defense tightened in the final period. Los Angeles shot 5 of 18 from the floor in the fourth and committed four turnovers. Dallas forced eight Sparks turnovers in the game, converting them into fast-break points. The Wings also dominated the boards, outrebounding Los Angeles 38-31, with Shepard grabbing six offensive rebounds.

The Sparks had won two of their previous three but lost three of four overall. Dallas had won four of five entering the game.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Los Angeles Sparks 94, Dallas Wings 93. Interstat’s ELO system gave Los Angeles a 68.30 percent probability to win. Dallas had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus 5.5. The total score of 104 went over the over-under line of 169.5.