Parker leads Sparks in romp over Lynx

LOS ANGELES — Rookie Candace Parker collected 24 points and 16 rebounds to help the Los Angeles Sparks rout the Minnesota Lynx 82-58 Monday night.

Sparks center Lisa Leslie contributed 20 points, eight rebounds and eight blocks and DeLisha Milton-Jones had a season-best 10 rebounds as Los Angeles (18-12) won its fourth consecutive game.

The Sparks are 1-½ games behind Western Conference leader San Antonio and a game behind the second-place Storm. The top four teams in the West advance to the playoffs.

Seimone Augustus scored 13 points and Nicky Anosike had 11 points and seven rebounds for the Lynx (14-14), who shot 33 percent and had a season low in points.

Minnesota is 1-½ games behind fourth-place Sacramento in the West.

Minnesota began the second half with a 6-0 run to take a 43-37 lead, but Los Angeles used a 29-5 burst to go ahead 66-48 with 9:07 to play.