Sparks Clinch Final Playoff Spot In Western Conference

LOS ANGELES (AP/CBSLA.com) — Candace Parker scored a season-high 33 points and Nneka Ogwumike added 26, to help the Los Angeles Sparks clinch the final playoff spot in the Western Conference by beating the Tulsa Shock 92-73 on Sunday.

It will be the Sparks' 15th postseason appearance, the most by any WNBA team.

"We just had a great focus," Los Angeles coach Brian Agler said. "Tulsa is a really good team and they're a tough team to defend. I thought our focus was as good as it has been all season long."

Parker, who made a career-high five 3-pointers, added eight rebounds and five assists while Ogwumike finished with nine rebounds and three steals. Jantel Lavender had 10 points, nine rebounds and three blocks for Los Angeles (14-18).

The Sparks took a 49-37 lead into halftime and led by double digits for most of the second half until a 10-0 run by Tulsa (16-15) cut its deficit to 74-70 when Plenette Pierson hit a 3-pointer with 5:56 to play.

Ana Dabovic scored all 10 of her points from there as Los Angeles closed the game with an 18-3 run.

The Shock trailed by just three points at the end of the first quarter despite making just 7 of 19 shots while Los Angeles made 9 of 18 field goals.

Vicki Baugh's three-point play to open the second quarter tied it at 22 but the Parker scored seven and Ogwumike four points during an 11-2 Sparks run over the next 3-plus minutes to extend its lead to 33-24.

Despite hitting 7-of-12 field goals in the quarter, the Shock fell 12 points behind at the break as Los Angeles made 12 of 16 from the field, including 3 of 3 from 3-point range.

Los Angeles recorded season-highs for field goals made in a half (21), points in a first half (49), field goal percentage in a half (.618), field goal percentage (.607) and 3-point field goal percentage (.545). The Sparks tied a season high by making 37 field goals.

"I think we can play better," Parker said. "Everyone is feeling good but I still think that there is better basketball and our best basketball is still ahead of us."

Los Angeles has won three in a row and six of its last seven.

Pierson and Odyssey Sims scored 21 apiece for Tulsa, which had its six game win streak snapped.

The win comes just days after Sparks forward Candace Parker was named the Western Conference Player of the Month for August.

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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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