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WNBA Playoff Capsules: Sparks, Lynx both advance to Finals

Los Angeles Sparks guard Odyssey Sims (center) celebrates a basket against the Phoenix Mercury in the second quarter of a WNBA semifinals game in Phoenix on Sunday. (Associated Press)
Associated Press
Los Angeles Sparks guard Odyssey Sims (center) celebrates a basket against the Phoenix Mercury in the second quarter of a WNBA semifinals game in Phoenix on Sunday. (Associated Press)

PHOENIX – Candace Parker’s driving layup with 2.9 seconds to play gave the Los Angeles Sparks an 89-87 win and three-game sweep of the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA semifinals Sunday.

Parker finished with 21 points and 11 assists.

Brittney Griner missed a shot as time expired and the Sparks celebrated with shouts and embraces in front of their bench.

Odyssey Sims scored 22 points on 9-of-12 shooting. Chelsea Gray added 14 points for the defending champion Sparks, who advanced to their second straight WNBA Finals and fifth overall. They will face Minnesota in a rematch of last year’s championship, after the Lynx completed a sweep of Washington earlier Sunday.

Diana Taurasi had tied the game at 87 with a 3-pointer from the wing with 10.8 seconds left.

Lynx 81, Mystics 70

WASHINGTON – Maya Moore scored 21 points, Sylvia Fowles added 17 points and 14 rebounds, and the Lynx completed a sweep of the Mystics in the best-of-three WNBA semifinals.

Seimone Augustus added 18 points as Minnesota secured its third consecutive finals appearance and sixth in seven seasons. The Lynx will attempt to win their fourth WNBA title in seven years.

Elena Delle Donne scored 15 points to lead the Mystics, who exit the playoffs after reaching the semifinals for the first time since 2002.

Tierra Ruffin-Pratt added 14 points and Kristi Tolliver had 13 for Washington, which forced the Lynx into a series-high 13 turnovers.

But the Mystics scored only 31 second-half points in their sixth loss in as many games against Minnesota in 2017, including regular season and playoffs.