West race tightens up, Lynx up by only one game

On the way to the Olympics break, a race for first place in the Western Conference has quickly developed.

Los Angeles and San Antonio both won again on Sunday and now trail the Lynx by only one game and one and a half games. The Lynx, of course, did their part to tighten up the race by dropping three consecutive games last week to San Antonio and L.A. on the road and Connecticut at home.

They will try to break that three-game losing streak -- and a three-game losing streak on the road, too -- when they play Tulsa on Tuesday.

The Shock (3-13) tuned up for the Lynx by beating Washington 78-62 in the battle of cellar-dwellers in the two conferences.

Guards Ivory Latta and Temeka Johnson had 18 and 17 points, respectively, to lead Tulsa. Johnson was three for three from behind the arc. Rookie forward Glory Johnson added 16 points. Crystal Langhorne led the Mystics (3-12) with 13 points. Attendance at the BOK Center in Tulsa was 4,003.

CROWDED AT TOP

West W L

San Ant 11 5 .688 1.5

LA 13 6 .684 1

SILVER STARS ON ROLL

San Antonio shot 55 percent from the field in beating New York 94-81 for its seventh consecutive win. Reserve guard Jia Perkins led the Silver Stars (11-5) with 24 points. Guard Becky Hammon had 24 and forward Sophia Young 21.

Essence Carson had 25 points and Cappie Pondexter 23 for the Liberty (6-10) who made 13 threes, within one of the franchise record. The Silver Stars made 11 threes, so long-range shooting wasn't a decisive factor.

The Los Angeles Sparks beat Atlanta 79-63, ending a six-game losing streak to the Dream. Point guard Kristi Toliver had 19 points an 6-4 forward Candace Parker had 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Sparks (13-6).

Sancho Lyttle led the Dream (8-9) with 17 points. Forward Angel McCoughtry, the Dream's top scorer, did not play because of a sprained MCL.