Cleveland ? Even down by 13 points in the second half, the Los Angeles Sparks didn’t panic. They rarely do.

Lisa Leslie scored 14 points after halftime and the Sparks rallied for a 79-71 win Tuesday night over Cleveland, spoiling the Rockers’ WNBA season opener and a visit from LeBron James.

Leslie finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds, Tamecka Dixon — a former Kansas University standout — had 18 points and Nikki Teasley 16 for the two-time defending champion Sparks.

“We showed a lot of poise getting back in the game,” Leslie said.

Los Angeles trailed 46-33 with 17:58 left, but Dixon scoring from the outside and Leslie powering inside for easy baskets, the Sparks came back with a 50-point second half. Betty Lennox scored 23 points for Cleveland.