Gameday preview: Los Angeles at Lynx

6 P.M. VS. LOS ANGELES • TARGET CENTER • FSN, 106.1-FM

Lynx update: Minnesota ended its three-game road trip with losses at L.A. and Phoenix, giving the Lynx their first losing streak of the season. The team is also feeling the wear and tear of having played five games in 10 days. The good news is this is a quick rematch with the Sparks. "We owe them," coach Cheryl Reeve said. Reeve is stressing better execution at both ends, especially late; the Lynx have scored 20 points total in their last two fourth quarters. Friday in Phoenix only two Lynx players – G Lindsay Whalen and backup C Asjha Jones – managed to score. The Lynx have averaged just 63.5 points their past two games, nearly 15 points under their season average and the team's worst two-game stretch this season. F Maya Moore has averaged 20.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists in three games vs. L.A. this season, G Whalen 15.0 points and 4.3 assists.

Sparks update: The Sparks are 4-1 in the five games since F Candace Parker made her season debut and the Sparks got G Alana Beard back from injury. That includes an 82-76 loss to the Lynx at Target Center on July 29. In four victories since, the Sparks have won three times by double figures. Their past two victories, both at home, were by 22 over the Lynx on Tuesday and by 27 over Tulsa on Thursday. Parker is averaging 17.6 points, 10.4 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game since her return. C Jantel Lavender has averaged 13.6 points and 12 rebounds in three games vs. the Lynx.

Kent Youngblood