Parker's near triple double sparks L.A.; Phoenix survives

Los Angeles center Candace Parker had another dominant game on Wednesday.

The 6-4 center forward had 33 points, tying a season high, a career-high nine blocks, eight rebounds and four assists as the Sparks beat Tulsa 95-79. Teammate Kristi Toliver had 22 points. The point guard was 14x14 at the free throw line.

L.A.'s main problem was making threes; the Sparks were one for 10 from behind the arc. The win moved the Sparks (9-3) within 1-1/2 games of the idle Lynx (10-1).

Tulsa (1-10) was led by rookie forward Glory Johnson who had 19 points and eight rebounds.

ROOKIE GUARD SAVES PHOENIX

Injury-riddled Phoenix edged Washington80-77. Rookie point guard Samatha Prahlis scored seven of her 15 points in the last 2 minutes, 2 seconds for the Mercury.

Phoenix was down 74-69 and had made one of 10 three-pointers when Prahalis and DeWanna Bonner made consecutive threes to put the Mercury ahead 75-74. Prahalis' basket off the glass gave the Mercury a 79-77 lead with 23 seconds left.

Diana Taurasi (hip flexor) has played in only two games. Candice Dupree and Nakia Sanford both suffered minor knee injuries on Sunday in a loss to Tulsa and didn't play.

So Phoenix started two former Lynx players. Alexis Hornbuckle was one of four Mercury players in double figures with 11, Charde Houston had six.

Michelle Snow had 21 points and nine rebounds for the Mystics; Monique Currie added 20. Washington was a solid eight for 17 on threes, but a poor seven for 15 on free throws.

LOOK AT WEST VS. EAST

The West is closing the gap in wins and losses with the East. After wins by Los Angeles and Phoenix over three days, West teams are 6-8 vs. the East led by the Lynx's 3-0 record.

Here are the Lynx scores against the East:

May 22: Lynx 80, New York 62

May 30: Lynx 79, Washington 77

June 1: Lynx 85, Connecticut 72

Other West teams' scores against the East, they are 3-8 altogether:

May 26: Washington 64, Tulsa 61

May 30: Chicago 77, San Antonio 63

May 31: Atlanta 81, Phoenix 65

June 8: Atlanta 60, San Antonio 57

Chicago 98, Tulsa 91, OT

Chicago 74, Seattle 58

June 15: Atlanta 92, Los Angeles 59

June 18: Los Angeles 101, Washington 70