Sparks 80 - 78 Stars
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Aug 1, 2015 - 6:48 PM It hasn't taken Candace Parker long to return to All-Star form for the Los Angeles Sparks.

Coming off her first 30-point effort since July 2014, Parker will try to help the Sparks turn things around as they go after rare back-to-back road wins Sunday against the San Antonio Stars.

Los Angeles (4-14) plummeted to the league's worst record at the All-Star break while Parker, a two-time WNBA MVP and three-time All-Star, sat out during a self-imposed rest.

With the veteran forward now back, the Sparks are hoping to make what once seemed like an improbable run to the playoffs. They're just 1 1/2 games behind San Antonio (6-13) for the fourth and final postseason spot in the Western Conference.

Parker has already found her groove, delivering her highest-scoring game since July 15, 2014. She had 31 points and nine rebounds in Friday's 88-77 win at Chicago after finishing with 12 points, nine assists and seven boards in her season debut, Wednesday's 82-76 road loss at league-best Minnesota.

The Sparks had averaged 64.3 points over the six games before Parker's return. San Antonio hasn't been sharp defensively, allowing 85 points or more in its last three.

"I know they have Candace Parker back, along with a lot of other All-Stars, so I think they're going to come in with a vengeance," Stars guard Kayla McBride said. "They think the second half of the season is their time to make a push for the playoffs, so we have to be ready for that intensity."

Los Angeles will try to notch consecutive victories for only the second time this season. It hasn't won back-to-back games on the road since running off four in a row in July 2014.

Without Parker, Nneka Ogwumike had 27 points and eight rebounds and Jantel Lavender added 21 and 10 as the Sparks picked up their first win - 86-81 over San Antonio on July 2.

The Stars, who have won four of the last five meetings, returned the favor in a 70-63 home victory July 8. Danielle Robinson had 22 points after she dished out 13 assists in the first matchup.

Ogwumike and Lavender gave San Antonio trouble again, teaming for 35 points and 23 rebounds.

That's certainly an area of concern for the Stars heading into Round 3 of the season series. They were outrebounded 42-25 in Friday's 88-53 loss to Washington that snapped their six-game home winning streak.

"They play a pretty big lineup so we just have to be ready for that," guard Samantha Logic said. "They rebound the ball really well and play people some big minutes so we just have to be ready for a physical game."

Sophia Young-Malcolm had 17 points and McBride scored 11 against the Mystics as San Antonio put up its second-fewest points of the season. Robinson struggled with just four points after reaching double figures in her previous five games.

Danielle Adams will serve the last of a three-game suspension for violating the league's anti-drug program.






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