Sparks coach Joe Bryant's objectives were simple for the team's regular-season finale against the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday night at the Staples Center: stay focused, avoid injuries at all costs and get the bench some extra work in before the first round of the Western Conference playoffs begin on Friday.
Mission accomplished.
Lisa Leslie scored 24 points and increased her season average to 20 points for the first time in her 10-year WNBA career, and led Los Angeles to a 78-59 victory in front of a crowd of 8,653 at the Staples Center.
"I feel we have the pieces to get it done," Leslie said. We move the ball well. There are nights when we are scoring well. I really like our team. I like our hunger. Even though we are in first place, we don't have that first-place swagger."
Although Leslie left her mark on the game, the bench provided a huge cushion in the second quarter by outscoring the Lynx 26-7 to build a 21-point by halftime and never relinquished it.
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Sparks now ready for coming Storm
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