Gameday preview: Los Angeles at Lynx

Lynx update: This is the third of four games vs. the Sparks this season, the first at home. The Lynx won both games in Los Angeles. The Lynx, 5-5 in their past 10 games, are coming off a difficult defeat in New York in which Liberty center Tina Charles scored a career-high 32 points. The Lynx allowed opponents to shoot better than 50 percent in three of those five losses, and they were outrebounded in four of them. Forward Maya Moore has scored 20 or more points in four of her past five games, but has shot 19-for-50 (38 percent) in her last three. Guard Lindsay Whalen is coming off a 5-for-15, 13-point performance in New York. Guard Seimone Augustus (knee bursitis) is expected to miss her fourth game in a row. Guard Monica Wright has scored in double figures her past two games, shooting 9-for-19 in the process.

Sparks update: The Sparks, among the preseason favories, have underachieved, going 7-10 overall and 4-6 in their past 10 games. Los Angeles has lost two of its past three, both at home, to Chicago and Phoenix. Los Angeles is ninth in the WNBA in both scoring defense (80.12) and defensive field goal percentage (45.4). But the Sparks are still dangerous. Forward Candace Parker scored 27 points in Sunday's loss to the Phoenix Mercury and has scored 66 points in her past three games. Power forward Nneka Ogwumike has scored 20 or more points in five of her past six games. Shooting guard Kristi Toliver is shooting 43.8 percent on three-pointers. She was 5-for-6 on threes and scored 26 points against Phoenix on Sunday.