Playoffs seem to be in Lynx future; magic number for clinching spot is 6

The Lynx's magic number for making the playoffs is six. Any combination of Lynx victories or Los Angeles losses adding up to six means the Lynx are in the playoffs for the first time since 2004.

Why is L.A.'s fortunes, so important? Well, the Sparks are in fifth-place in the Western Conference, nine games behind the Lynx.

If the Lynx (16-4) win their next six games, they would be 22-4 and whatever L.A. (7-13) in its last 14 games would not matter. The Sparks at best could win 21 games. So six Lynx wins or six L.A. losses or any combination of the those two would ensure the Lynx making the playoffs.

Last place Tulsa (1-19) already can't catch the Lynx.

The Sparks have one big ace in the hole -- actually she was on the L.A. bench last night as the Sparks lost 84-78 to the Lynx. Center Candace Parker, the WNBA's MVP and Rookie of the Year in 2008, was in uniform for the first time she injured her knee six weeks ago.

She has started practicing with L.A. again and is rehabbing, doing a lot of stretching. Parker said she is "day to day."

The Sparks could make a late-season run if Parker's knee responds well when she comes back.

SPARKS RALLY LATE

Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said she expected the Sparks to mount a comeback. "Obviously at the end of the game when a team is down you get desperate and you turn it up a notch," Reeve said. "I give LA credit, they made shots and [Jenna] O'Hea hit that big three. They had one last push in them. We didn't respond initially and we had to hang on for the win."

"This is a tough place to play. For us there are a number of records that have gone down this year with the Lynx, this is one of them. We don't bring it [the record] up to the players - this season has nothing to do with the last season or the one before that."

The Lynx had lost six games in a row at Staples Center.

" What's really fun is when a game gets really tough," Reeve said. "To watch our players respond and have the confidence in one another to pull through."

WHALEN SHARP

Point guard Lindsay Whalen led the Lynx with a season-high 24 points and nearly had a double-double. She had eight assists. Three other Lynx were in double figures, too. L.A. also had four players in double figures.

The Lynx are 3-1 against L.A. this season with one game left.

One reason for concern is the Lynx's reliance on the five starters. They all played at least 31 minutes, 48 seconds. The Lynx bench was outscored by the Sparks bench 32-5.

Minnesota had a 11-0 advantage in fast break points and scored 26 points off of LA's 18 turnovers.