Lynx play at Los Angeles, going for sixth win in a row
September 8, 2019 at 12:53AM
Win streak, home playoff both at stake
Preview: The Lynx (18-15) take a season-high five-game winning streak into the regular-season finale after an 83-69 victory at Phoenix on Friday. The Sparks (21-12) clinched the No. 3 playoff spot with a 102-68 victory over Seattle on Thursday. The Sparks, who have won seven of the past eight regular-season meetings between the two, are looking for a season sweep of the Lynx. The Sparks won 89-85 on June 8 at Target Center and 81-71 in Los Angeles on Aug. 20.
Players to watch: Lynx G Odyssey Sims had a game-high 22 points and nine assists Friday. C Sylvia Fowles had 11 rebounds Friday to move into second place on the WNBA's all-time rebounding list. Fowles has 3,323 career rebounds — 33 fewer than former Lynx Rebekkah Brunson. F Nneka Ogwumike leads the Sparks in scoring (16.2) and rebounding (9.0). G Chelsea Gray is averaging 14.5 points and is third in the league in assists (5.9). F/C Candace Parker, who missed 12 games earlier this season, is averaging a career-low 11.2 points per game but has scored 41 in the Sparks' past two games.
Numbers: Friday's victory guaranteed a ninth consecutive season with a winning record for the Lynx. The next best such streak in WNBA history is seven by the defunct Houston Comets from 1997 through 2003.
Injuries: None reported.
JOEL RIPPEL
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Royce Lewis’ blazing start to his Twins career had him atop the ranking at the end of spring. But times have changed.
