2016 WNBA season scores: Sparks equalize season series vs Lynx with 94-76 win

Just three days after losing to the Minnesota Lynx at home, 72-69, the Los Angeles Sparks put the league on notice with a convincing 94-76 win on Friday in Minneapolis.

Kristi Toliver led the way, firing 25 points and tying his career-high for three-point makes in a single game. She shot 7-for-11 from long range and added four assists. Nneka Ogwumike, a non-factor the last time out with just nine points and three field goal attempts, scored 20 points on 9-for-15 shooting. Candace Parker added 14 points, nine rebounds, and five assists.

While shooting an impressive 11-for-19 rate from three-point area, the Sparks were also aggressive throughout the contest. That mentality merited them easy baskets inside and great looks from the outside. The Sparks had a 25-14 lead in assists. And unlike the Tuesday match where they were -13 in rebounding, the Sparks led the department, 29-28.

The Sparks survived a 28-point night from Maya Moore, who shot 6-for-12 from three-point range and 10-for-19 overall. Jia Perkins was the only other double-digit scorer with 13 points coming off the bench. Natasha Howard and Lindsay Whalen both scored nine points.

Though the Sparks had been in control for most of the match, the Lynx kept themselves in a good position to catch up. An and-one by Whalen cut the deficit down to 71-68. A technical foul on Parker gave the Lynx an opportunity to tie the score. But Seimone Augustus missed the technical free throw and the Lynx turned the ball over.

From there, the Sparks broke the game wide open. Toliver, Parker, and Essence Carson all hit triples as the Sparks closed the game on a 23-8 run, silencing 13,003 fans which watched the game live in the process.

The Lynx remain in the top of the team standings with a 13-1 record while the Sparks aren't far behind at 12-1.

Two takeaways:

The Sparks don't need to go extra big against the Lynx's frontcourt. The Sparks just needed to make the opposing frontcourt work, which they did in this match. Ogwumike did her usual job of moving well without the call, cutting and diving to the basket. Parker didn't settle as well, and did not force it. She instead got her teammates involved when she had attracted the defense. With such length in the perimeter as well, the Sparks make it difficult for the Lynx to attack. Though Moore finished with 28, she was just 4-for-10 from the field with 10 points in the first half. The Sparks can live with that as long as they keep others in check. Seimone Augustus and Sylvia Fowles were just 11 points combined on 4-for-12 shooting.

Kristi Toliver has arguably been the best player in this regular season series so far. Toliver had 20 points on 4-for-8 three-point shooting and four rebounds last Tuesday against the same team. It's like no one from the Lynx can contain Toliver and her ability to pull up, drive, and expose defenders one on one. Playing like the way she did in the past two games will surely help the Sparks moving forward.

Last night's scores

 Phoenix Mercury 91, Washington Mystics 79
Diana Taurasi became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 7,000 career points as she led the Mercury to a win over the Mystics.

Taurasi scored 27 points including 5-for-8 from three-point range as the Mercury snapped a three-game losing streak and improved to 5-9 in the season. Brittney Griner added 22 points and three blocks.

Natasha Cloud and Tayler Hill each scored 18 points for the Mystics, which dropped below .500 (7-8).

New York Liberty 80, Chicago Sky 79

Tina Charles had 21 points, 13 rebounds, and four assists as the Liberty survived the Sky in a nail-biter. Kiah Stokes added 12 points, seven boards, and two blocked shots.

Elena Delle Donne led Chicago with 31 points on 10-for-17 shooting and eight rebounds.
New York rose to 10-4 with the win -- the team's sixth straight -- and maintained hold of the top spot in the Eastern Conference by 1.5 games. Chicago dropped to 6-8.

Los Angeles Sparks 94, Minnesota Lynx 76

 Seattle Storm 98, Connecticut Sun 81
Breanna Stewart tallied her best game of the season so far as she finished with 29 points, nine rebounds, six assists, three steals, and three blocks to lead the Storm to a victory over the Sun.

Sue Bird and Jewell Loyd each added 19 points. The Storm shot 61.4 percent from the field as they improved to 5-9 in the season.

Alex Bentley and Shekinna Stricklen led Connecticut (3-11) with 13 and 12 points, respectively.

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