LOS ANGELES (AP) - Candace Parker scored 23 points and Kristi Toliver added 15 to help the Los Angeles Sparks rout the San Antonio Stars 83-62 on Sunday.
Parker scored 12 of the Sparks’ first 15 points of the third quarter and the Sparks (2-1) avoided their worst start since they began 0-3 in 2010. It was their first home win since they were purchased Feb. 5 by a group that is led by former NBA star Magic Johnson and Dodgers controlling owner Mark R. Walter.
Nneka Ogwumike returned from a lower back strain injury and scored 11 points with nine rebounds. Jantel Lavender scored 12 points on 6 for 9 shooting. The Sparks outscored the Stars 48-30 in the paint.
Jia Perkins led the Stars (2-2) with 17 points and Danielle Robinson, Becky Hammon and Kayla McBride each scored eight points. San Antonio was going for its first three-game win streak since it won 12 in a row in 2012.
Parker effectively sealed it with a 3-pointer from the right side to give the Sparks a 71-58 lead with 4:33 left. San Antonio did not get within a single-digit deficit the rest of the way.
FEVER 82, DREAM 77, OT
ATLANTA (AP) - Erlana Larkins had 13 points and 22 rebounds while Briann January added 16 points to help the Fever beat the Dream.
Larkins finished two rebounds shy of the WNBA single-game record set by Washington’s Chamique Holdsclaw at Charlotte on May 23, 2003.
The Fever (1-3) ended a three-game losing streak that stopped their worst start to a season since 2001.
Angel McCoughtry scored 19 points and Jasmine Thomas added 17 for Atlanta (2-2).
Larkins had five points and five rebounds in overtime as Indiana outscored the Dream 14-9 in the final 5 minutes.
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