Monday, July 31, 2017

Parker, Ogwumike help Sparks overcome Wings

(TSX / STATS) -- Candace Parker poured in 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and Nneka Ogwumike added 22 points as the Los Angeles Sparks found their stride at the end of the third quarter and rolled to a 95-74 victory over the Dallas Wings on Sunday afternoon at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Parker followed up the sixth triple-double in WNBA history with her seventh double-double of the season in leading the Sparks (17-6) to their third straight victory. Chelsey Gray added 16 points for Los Angeles and Alana Beard hit for 13 points.

The Wings (11-14) were led by Aerial Powers' 23 points while Allisha Gray added 16, Skylar Diggins-Smith scored 14 and Glory Johnson tallied 10 for Dallas.

Los Angeles outshot Dallas 56.3-28.8 percent but the Wings stayed within shouting distance through the first 28 minutes thanks to a 30-12 advantage in made free throws.

Los Angeles led by as many as 16 in the first half and settled for a 49-42 advantage at halftime as Parker scored 17 points (7-of-8 shooting from the floor) and Ogwumike had 14 (6-for-6).

Dallas shot only 29.4 percent in the first half but stayed in the game thanks to 14 points from Powers and 11 by Gray and by taking 21 free throws and making 19 over the first 20 minutes.

The Wings were within 61-53 after three Diggins-Smith free throws with 5:14 to play in the third quarter before Los Angeles pulled away. The Sparks scored 12 of the final 14 points in the period to assume a 79-60 lead with a quarter to play.

The teams return to action Friday as Los Angeles hosts Los Angeles and Dallas entertains Seattle.

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