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Aug 3, 2015 - 7:50 PM While Maya Moore hopes to take another step toward making history, Candace Parker is simply trying to guide the once league-worst Los Angeles Sparks to the playoffs.

After coming up short at Minnesota last week, the Sparks will get another shot at the WNBA-best Lynx on Tuesday night when the league's last two MVPs meet at Staples Center.

It looked as though Moore's streak of consecutive 20-point games might end Saturday before she scored 16 of her 20 in the fourth quarter to lead Minnesota to its third straight win, 86-80 at Tulsa.

The 2014 MVP has averaged 24.8 points while hitting 44.2 percent from 3-point range over a string of 11 straight games with at least 20 points. Diana Taurasi set the league record with 13 in a row from 2006-07.

Moore, second in the league with 21.0 points per game, scored 27 in an 82-76 win over Los Angeles on Wednesday. She's averaging 26.0 over her last five matchups.

Lindsay Whalen added 24 points as Minnesota (15-4) won for the fifth time in six meetings. It was the Lynx's first contest since acquiring Sylvia Fowles from Chicago in a three-team trade. The three-time All-Star is averaging 14.0 points in three games after scoring 19 against the Shock.

Parker finished with 12 points, nine assists and seven rebounds Wednesday in her first game with Los Angeles in 11 months. The 2013 MVP has averaged 18.5 points and 8.7 rebounds in her last nine meetings.

Parker displayed little rust in her second game back from a self-imposed rest, scoring 31 in Friday's 88-77 win at Chicago. She then had 17 points and 11 rebounds in Sunday's 80-78 victory in San Antonio.

The three-time All-Star also came up big defensively with three blocks, including one on the potential tying shot in the final seconds after the Sparks (5-14) overcame a 13-point deficit.

She's certainly given the club a boost offensively. The Sparks, who haven't won three straight since July 2014, have averaged 81.3 points in Parker's three games after scoring 64.3 over their previous six.

Los Angeles, which had the league's worst record in the first half of the season, moved a half-game behind San Antonio for the Western Conference's fourth and final playoff spot.

The Sparks lost at Minnesota last week despite shooting 56.4 percent. That's partly because Minnesota hit 18 of 24 from the free-throw line compared to Los Angeles' 7 of 8.

Jantel Lavender had 15 points and 10 rebounds in that contest, while Kristi Toliver scored 14 after missing 14 games due to a foot injury. Lavender had 20 points and eight boards and Alana Beard added 15 points and seven assists at San Antonio.

Moore scored 22 in Minnesota's 67-52 win in the first meeting at Staples Center on June 16. Lavender finished with 12 points and 13 rebounds.