Sparks Make Conference Finals

Sparks 74, Lynx 64

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 1 -- Lisa Leslie scored 22 points to lead the two-time WNBA champion Los Angeles Sparks past Minnesota, 74-64, tonight and into the Western Conference finals for the fifth consecutive year.

The Sparks won the first-round series 2-1 and will play either second-seeded Houston or No. 3 Sacramento. That series is tied 1-1 and Game 3 is Tuesday night.

Tamecka Dixon added 14 points, DeLisha Milton and Nikki Teasley each scored 13 and Mwadi Mabika had 12 as all five Sparks starters scored in double figures for the second consecutive game.

Milton's hot shooting carried over from Saturday night, when she had 17 points and 10 rebounds as the Sparks avoided elimination by tying the series. They lost a 21-point lead and the opening game at Minnesota, which is 2-16 all-time against Los Angeles.

Tamika Williams led the Lynx with 17 points and nine rebounds -- the only Minnesota player to score in double figures. She blossomed in the playoffs, doubling her regular season scoring average to 16 points and playing nearly 40 minutes in each game.

Katie Smith had 11 points for the Lynx, who finished 18-17 after making the playoffs for the first time in their five-year existence.

Minnesota had just four leads in the first two games and never led in Game 3, when it shot 36 percent.

The Lynx trailed by 15 points early in the second half, then got within nine points with 1 minute 42 seconds remaining. But Teresa Edwards missed a 14-footer after committing two costly turnovers moments earlier.

Smith's three-point play drew Minnesota to 58-50, but Svetlana Abrosimova had the ball ripped away by Mabika and Teasley made a three-pointer for the Sparks.

Kristi Harrower made a three-pointer as Minnesota closed within seven points with 6:08 to play. Mabika scored on a layin of Dixon's miss and Leslie stole the ball and scored at the other end for a 66-55 lead.