Sparks rout Lynx to move within game of WNBA title

LOS ANGELES – Candace Parker scored 24 points, Nneka Ogwumike added 21, and the Los Angeles Sparks beat the Minnesota Lynx 92-75 on Friday night to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-5 WNBA Finals.

The Sparks could win their first league championship since 2002 with a victory in Game 4 on Sunday.

They built a 22-point advantage in the opening quarter when the Sparks shot 60 percent in the game played at Galen Center on the Southern California campus, down the street from their home court at Staples Center.

Rebekkah Brunson and Sylvia Fowles led Minnesota with 14 points each. Lindsay Whalen added 11, and Maya Moore had nine points and seven rebounds. The Lynx had 13 turnovers.

With their former and current league MVPs leading the way, the Sparks dominated inside. Parker and Ogwumike helped Los Angeles to a 52-32 advantage in the paint.

Parker and Ogwumike had nine rebounds each, helping the Sparks to a 29-24 edge on the boards.

Essence Carson added 16 points, and Beard finished with 15.

The Lynx made a run in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Sparks 11-2 to close to 81-71. Los Angeles answered with eight straight points to go up 89-71. Parker hit a layup and fed Ogwumike on a fast-break sandwiched around baskets by Alana Beard.

The Sparks dominated from the opening tip, with Parker and Ogwumike especially devastating in a 2 1/2-minute sequence. They combined to score 12 straight points with Ogwumike hitting consecutive 3-pointers and Los Angeles taking a 21-6 lead.

Minnesota is seeking its fourth title in six years. The Lynx evened the series with a 19-point victory in Game 2 on their home court.