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Friday, Jul. 21 9:00pm ET
It's official: Sparks clinch playoff berth | |||||
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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
PHOENIX (AP) -- Lisa Leslie hit two free throws with 27 seconds remaining to snap a tie, and the Los Angeles Sparks went on to a 74-68 victory over the Phoenix Mercury on Friday night to clinch a playoff spot. Leslie finished with 30 points and 16 rebounds. Brandy Reed scored 21 to lead the Mercury (14-8). The victory was the fourth straight for the Sparks (20-3), who stayed within a half-game of the Houston Comets (21-3) in the battle for the top spot in the Western Conference. Phoenix's Jennifer Gillom hit a 3-pointer with 1:15 left to tie it at 68 before Leslie broke the tie with her free throws. Tamecka Dixon and DeLisha Milton each added two free throws in the final 12 seconds for the Sparks. Scoring both inside and on long jumpers, Leslie shot 11-for-23 from the field. Milton added 16 points and Dixon 12 for the Sparks. Lisa Harrison scored 13 points and Gillom and Ranika Sarensac each had 12 for the Mercury. In the teams' previous meeting, the Sparks beat the Mercury by 21 in Los Angeles. Los Angeles twice built a 10-point lead in the first half. But a three-point play by Reed with 39 seconds left gave the Mercury a 34-33 halftime lead. The Mercury played for the second straight game without coach Cheryl Miller, who is recuperating from knee surgery. The Sparks played the final 11:40 without coach Michael Cooper after he was ejected. | ALSO SEE WNBA Scoreboard RECAPS Houston 76 Detroit 74
Los Angeles 74
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