LOS ANGELES (AP) -Lisa Leslie scored 18 points and Noelle Quinn had 15 points as the Los Angeles Sparks secured a WNBA Western Conference playoff spot by rallying for a 76-68 victory over the San Antonio Silver Stars on Tuesday night.

Tina Thompson added 13 points and Candace Parker had 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Sparks (16-16), who broke a two-game losing streak.

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``We just really fought hard on both ends of the court, which is really unusual for us,' Leslie said. ``We need to make that a habit.'

Shanna Crossley scored 16 points for the Silver Stars (14-17), who have lost five of eight. Sophia Young and Ann Wauters both added 13 points, and Becky Hammon had 12 points, seven assists and four rebounds.

``That's not an easy team to defend because they're so smart, they're not going to hurt themselves,' Leslie said. ``But we got our hands on a lot of deflections and that led to easier baskets in the paint.'

San Antonio, which led by as many as 10 points, held a 53-47 edge in the third quarter. Los Angeles then used a 13-2 run to move ahead 60-55 with 8:10 to play.

``They came out with a tougher mindset in the second half,' Hammon said. ``That first five minutes really determined the flow for the rest of the game, which is too bad.'

Young made a layup while being fouled and converted the ensuing free throw to narrow the Silver Stars' deficit to 60-58. But Leslie and Quinn each scored four points during a 10-3 spurt to extend Los Angeles' lead to 70-61 with 3:46 left.

The Sparks shot 50 percent and forced 18 turnovers that resulted in 23 points.