Maya Moore, Seimone Augustus lead Lynx over Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES - After struggling to make baskets the past three games, Maya Moore's scoring touch is back. So is Seimone Augustus'.

Moore, the league MVP last season, scored 22 points and Seimone Augustus had 20, most of them early, as the Lynx beat the Los Angeles Sparks 67-52 on Tuesday night at Staples Center.

The Lynx (4-1) started slowly, trailing 15-12 after the first quarter and 21-14 at one point in the second. Only Augustus' 10 points had kept it that close.

The Sparks led 28-23 at halftime before the Lynx took control of the game, outscoring the home team 23-9 in the third quarter.

Augustus, who was 10 of 16 from the field, had been averaging only 14 points per game. But she missed only three shots from inside the three-point line and also had four assists.

Moore was 8-for-15, including making two three-pointers. She also had four assists.

Adept ball-handling was one key to the road win. The Lynx had 25 assists — seven by guard Lindsay Whalen — on 30 baskets and the visitors committed only eight turnovers.

The Sparks were missing three starters: Candace Parker, out indefinitely to rest; Kristi Toliver, playing with Slovakian national team in the European championships, and Nneka Ogwumike, out because of an injured ankle.

The Lynx won three of last season's four meetings, with each victory by 11-plus points.

Minnesota entered Tuesday's game ranked second in the league in points (80.3) and rebounds per game (39.7) and field goal percentage (43.2), while Los Angeles sat in last place in points per game at 57.5 and field goal percentage (36.3).

The Lynx shot 52.6 percent from the field, the Sparks 39.3.

Center Jantel Lavender led Los Angeles with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Marianna Tolo added 10 points.