PHOENIX (AP) - Candace Parker had 22 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Los Angeles Sparks to a 90-71 victory over the Phoenix Mercury for their fourth straight win.
Kristi Tolliver added 19 points and six assists and Nneka Ogwumike had 11 points and 14 rebounds for Los Angeles (14-6). Parker also had four assists and three blocks. The Sparks trail defending champion Minnesota by one game in the Western Conference.
DeWanna Bonner and rookie Sammy Prahalis both had 14 points and seven rebounds to lead the Mercury (4-14). Alexis Gray-Lawson added 13 points and Krystal Thomas scored 11.
Both teams were playing their third games in four days but Los Angeles won all three while the Mercury lost all three. Phoenix, playing again without injured stars Diana Taurasi and Candice Dupree, has lost five straight and seven of nine.'
Phoenix has been without Taurasi (strained hip flexor) since May 31st, and has lost 12 of 15 in her absence. Dupree, the team's second-leading scorer through the first nine games, missed her second straight contest and has played just nine minutes since June 17.
Phoenix made only 31 percent of its shots (25 of 80) and was outrebounded 55-43.
Parker scored four points during a key 8-0 run late in the first half to help Los Angeles take a 44-36 lead at the break. Parker and Tolliver each had 3-pointers early in the third quarter as the Sparks opened up a 60-45 lead.
Phoenix didn't get closer than 11 the rest of the way.
The Sparks have beaten the Mercury in all four meetings this season, winning by an average of 14 points.
