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Aug 24, 2009 - 7:50 PM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Chicago (13-14) at Los Angeles (13-13), 10:00 p.m. EDT

Candace Parker has been back in the Los Angeles Sparks' lineup for nearly two months, but the WNBA's reigning MVP says she's still not at full strength.

The Sparks' recent opponents would beg to differ.

Coming off her most productive game of the season, Parker will try to lead Los Angeles to its longest winning streak in more than three years Tuesday night when it opens a four-game homestand against the Chicago Sky.

Parker missed the Sparks' first eight games after giving birth in May, and the absence of the 2008 top overall draft pick showed. Los Angeles (13-13) lost five of eight in June without Parker, then went 2-5 in July as she struggled to get into game shape and averaged 7.1 points.

She's averaged 14.5 points in August and as she's heated up, so has her team. Parker scored a season-high 23 points Sunday in Atlanta, lifting the Sparks to a 91-87 victory that extended their winning streak to five.

Los Angeles hasn't won six in a row since July 5-18, 2006.

"I'm definitely not 100 percent, but I'm getting there," said Parker, who played all but three minutes and was 8 for 13 from the floor. "I'm about 85 percent. Come playoffs, it will be 100 percent."

It looked very much like Los Angeles would miss the postseason as recently as three weeks ago, but it's now in sole possession of third place in the West - two games behind Seattle for home-court advantage in the first round.

A playoff spot hardly looks like a lock anymore for Chicago (13-14). A 76-67 loss to Detroit on Saturday was the Sky's second straight - both at home - and they are tied with Washington for the East's fourth and final playoff spot.

Candice Dupree had 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead Chicago, which played its second game in a row without All-Star center Sylvia Fowles (sprained right ankle). Dupree wasn't pleased with her team, which shot 35.4 percent - including 15.0 percent from 3-point range.

"I just feel like people have no motivation," Dupree said. "This is the first time in franchise history we could potentially make the playoffs and I don't feel like everybody plays like that every night. We've got to pick it up."

Dupree has done her part, averaging 17.5 points in August, but the Sky need more from Jia Perkins. Chicago's second-leading scorer (14.1 points per game) behind Dupree, Perkins has averaged 9.0 points on 38.0 percent shooting in her last five games.

Perkins had a game-high 18 points in the Sky's 75-63 win over Los Angeles on July 29. Parker had nine points and 10 rebounds for the Sparks, who were without the injured Lisa Leslie.

Leslie had 21 points as Los Angeles beat Chicago 80-67 on June 18, 2008, in the Sky's last trip to Staples Center.