Los Angeles Sparks forward Candace Parker (3) steals the ball from Minnesota Lynx forward Taj McWilliams-Franklin (8) in the first half of the game at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE
The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES - Candace Parker and rookie Nneka Ogwumike had 22 points and 11 rebounds each, and the Los Angeles Sparks tuned up for the playoffs with a 92-76 victory over the defending WNBA champion Minnesota Lynx on Thursday night.
Alana Beard added 13 points and Kristi Toliver had 10 points and eight assists for the Sparks (24-10), who ended the regular season with their fourth straight win while splitting the four-game season series with the Lynx in front of Clippers teammates Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan.
Monica Wright scored 19 points, and Devereaux Peters added 17 points and 13 rebounds for Minnesota (26-6), which had won six of its last seven games against the Sparks but fell to 3-19 all-time at Staples Center. Maya Moore had 13 points as the Lynx shot a season-low 35 percent.
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