LOS ANGELES (AP) - Becky Hammon scored 17 of her season-high 37 points in the fourth quarter and the San Antonio Silver Stars beat the Los Angeles Sparks 82-65 on Tuesday to clinch the West’s final playoff berth.
Hammon had 26 of her points after halftime. She shot 14 of 19 overall with four 3-pointers. Tully Bevilaqua added 11 points as San Antonio made the playoffs for the fifth straight year.
After Tina Thompson pulled the Sparks within 61-58, the Silver Stars went on a 12-0 run over the next 3:37. Hammon and Bevilaqua combined for 10 points.
Thompson had 18 points and DeLisha Milton-Jones added 16 for the Sparks, who were eliminated from postseason contention.
Dream 85, Sun 74
ATLANTA (AP) _ Angel McCoughtry scored 35 points and the Atlanta Dream moved into third place in the Eastern Conference.
The loss dropped the Sun (20-13) a game behind first-place Indiana in the Eastern Conference. The Dream (19-14) is one game behind the Sun and half a game ahead of fourth-place New York.
Tina Charles had 17 points and 12 rebounds for Connecticut for her 22nd double-double of the season, matching the WNBA record she set last year. Renee Montgomery scored 16 for the Sun, which fell to 6-11 on the road.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.