Milestone note

maker in a coin-flip game.

“She hurt us going downhill,” Brondello said. “We wanted to try and get the ball out of her hands, but she did a real good job of getting downhill drives and taking high percentage shots and making them.

“Our goal was to give them outside shots. They made eight (3-pointers), but if we had stopped her, it doesn’t matter if they hit eight 3s. We’ll do better next game, and this is a very good team. They’re the champions. But we know we’re in a good spot, and we had every opportunity to win that game.”

Los Angeles’ Nneka Ogwumike, 2016 WNBA Most Valuable Player, hit a 3pointer for her first points more than 14 minutes into the game. The 6-9 Griner mostly was guarding the 6-2 Ogwumike, who finished with 13 points. Taurasi passed Tamika Catchings for second in WNBA career field goals.

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Sparks 89, Mercury 87

LOS ANGELES (89) Beard 4-6 3-4 12, Carson 4-6 2-2 12, Gray 8-13 7-10 24, Ogwumike 5-8 2-2 13, Parker 5-14 2-4 14, Lavender 3-6 3-4 9, Sims 1-2 0-1 2, Wiese 1-4 0-0 3. Totals 31-59 19-27 89.

PHOENIX (87) Griner 7-14 7-7 21, Little 4-8 2-3 12, Robinson 3-6 1-1 7, Talbot 1-2 2-2 4, Taurasi 8-16 5-5 27, Cannon 3-4 1-2 7, George 0-3 0-0 0, Mitchell 1-4 2-3 4, Murphy 2-7 0-0 5, Turner 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 29-65 20-23 87. Los Angeles 19 20 26 24 — 89 Phoenix 18 22 21 26 — 87 3-Point Goals—Los Angeles 8-18 (Carson 2-3, Parker 2-5, Beard 1-1, Wiese 1-2, Ogwumike 1-2, Gray 1-4, Sims 0-1), Phoenix 9-24 (Taurasi 6-10, Little 2-4, Murphy 1-4, Turner 0-1, Mitchell 0-2, George 0-3). Fouled Out—Carson. Rebounds—Los Angeles 22 (Ogwumike, Parker 5), Phoenix 30 (Griner 9). Assists—Los Angeles 22 (Gray 8), Phoenix 16 (Griner 5). Total Fouls—Los Angeles 20, Phoenix 26. Technicals— Los Angeles defensive three second, Los Angeles team. A—10,223 (18,422).