Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) – Candace Parker’s layup with 3.4 seconds left lifted the Los Angeles Sparks to a 92-91 win over the Phoenix Mercury.
Parker led the way with 22 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks for the Sparks, who snapped a three-game skid and won for just the second time in eight games this season.
DeLisha Milton-Jones had 18 points and nine rebounds, and her sparkling defensive play at the end sealed the win. Betty Lennox tallied 16 points, eight boards and six assists, while Kristi Toliver scored 14.
Diana Taurasi tallied a team-best 21 points to go with seven rebounds for the Mercury, who have lost two in a row and four of five. Tangela Smith had 18 points and nine boards.
Phoenix scored 13 in a row to gain its largest lead of the night at 61-50 in the third and the Mercury went to the fourth up 70-65.
Temeka Johnson drained a three-ball for an 89-84 Phoenix lead with 56.6 seconds left, but the visitors wasted the advantage. Toliver converted a three-point play, and a three-ball from Noelle Quinn from the left corner gave LA a 90-89 edge with 18.3 on the clock. Johnson then drove into the lane for a layup to tip the scale in Phoenix’s favor with 8.8 seconds left before Parker drove around Smith and to the basket.
Penny Taylor, who had 17 points and seven assists, then had the ball stripped in the lane by Milton-Jones as time expired.