Los Angeles ? For the first time since standout Lisa Leslie injured her knee, the WNBA champion Los Angeles Sparks won with ease.

Nikki Teasley had 16 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, and the Sparks tied a league record by making all 27 of their free throws Thursday in an 82-65 victory over the Phoenix Mercury.

The two-time defending champions had won twice — in double overtime and by four points — and lost twice without Leslie, last season’s league MVP, entering Thursday’s game.

They beat the Mercury for the 13th straight time.

“We did great things out on the court,” said DeLisha Milton, who added 16 points as the Sparks improved to an WNBA-best 18-5.

“We really came out today and collectively put a great game together.”

The Sparks trailed only once, at 3-0, and led 44-30 at halftime. The Mercury scored seven straight points to move within 13 points with 9:38 to play. But rookie Shaquala Williams’ 12-foot jumper ended the streak and Phoenix wasn’t closer than 13 after that.

Phoenix coach John Shumate kept the locker room door closed for 30 minutes while he addressed his team.

“He felt like it’s been two games in a row that we haven’t come out ready to play,” said forward Lisa Harrison, who added that Shumate questioned “our effort and our heart.”

Leslie missed her fifth game because of a sore right knee that was injured in the WNBA All-Star game on July 12. Los Angeles guard Tamecka Dixon sat out her third game with a strained left knee.

Former Kansas University standout Dixon was hurt in a loss to Houston last Friday.

Fever 80, Mystics 75

Washington — Tamika Catchings scored 29 points to lead the Indiana Fever to victory despite Chamique Holdsclaw’s career-high 34 points.

Holdsclaw, who made 10 of 16 shots, also grabbed nine rebounds.

After Muriel Page’s jumper pulled Washington within a point with 1:23 remaining, Catchings made a layup, and Stephanie White hit four free throws to give Indiana a 78-72 lead with 33 seconds left.

Stacey Dales-Schuman, who scored 19 points on 7-for-11 shooting, pulled the Mystics to 78-75 with a 3-pointer off the glass with 26 seconds left.

White, who finished with 15 points, made two additional free throws with 6.1 seconds remaining to secure the victory for Los Angeles.

Sting 67, Shock 61

Charlotte, N.C. — Allison Feaster scored 18 points to help Charlotte Sting snap a three-game losing streak.

Andrea Stinson added 14 points for Charlotte, which went 4-0 against the Eastern Conference-leading Shock this season. Ruth Riley scored 16 points to lead Detroit, which had its four-game winning streak snapped .

Monarchs 67, Liberty 53

Sacramento, Calif. — Tangela Smith scored 12 points and Sacramento closed the game with a 16-4 run. The Liberty rallied from a nine-point deficit to cut Sacramento’s lead to 51-49 with 3:40 remaining.

The Monarchs then went on their big run to win for the fourth time in five games under interim coach John Whisenant.

Yolanda Griffith and Ruthie Bolton each scored 10 points for the Monarchs, while Ticha Penicheiro and Kara Lawson each had nine.