Parker Lifts Sparks To 81-71 Win Over Lynx, Forces Game 3

LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Candace Parker scored 25 points to lead the Sparks to an 81-71 win against the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals Sunday.

The Sparks tied the best-of-three series, 1-1. Game 3 is Tuesday in Minnesota.

Parker scored 15 points in the second quarter, on 5-for-7 shooting. She had eight straight points during a 12-0 run as the Sparks led by 22 points and took a 53-35 lead into halftime.

Ana Dabovic added a career-high 18 points for the Sparks, who won their first playoff game since 2013.

Maya Moore led Minnesota with 27 points. The Lynx started the third quarter on a 15-2 run, capped by Moore's 3-pointer, to pull to 55-50. They trailed by four points early in the fourth quarter but got no closer.

Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike left the game in the third quarter with a neck strain and did not return after she was struck in a tangle of players in the paint.

The game was played at Long Beach State because the Emmy Awards were held near Staples Center.

(© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)