The Los Angeles Sparks topped the Minnesota Lynx 79-57 Thursday evening at Staples Center to move into third place, as both Nneka Ogwumike (illness) and Alana Beard (groin) returned to the starting lineup. With the victory, the Sparks snapped a five-game home losing streak and sit just half a game behind the second place Atlanta Dream.
L.A.’s ball pressure early on forced the Lynx to run their offense from well beyond the 3-point line. A Candace Parker deflection lead to the first of three consecutive Lynx turnovers in the first four minutes of the game.