Candace Parker leads Sparks past visiting Lynx

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Candace Parker scored 27 points and Kristi Toliver had 14 to lead the Los Angeles Sparks to a 96-66 win against the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday night.

Parker scored 21 points in the first half and matched her season high in points, adding eight rebounds. Toliver matched a career high with nine assists and Nneka Ogwumike added 12 points and 10 rebounds as the Sparks (6-4) snapped a two-game losing streak. They remained undefeated at home this season.

Lindsay Whalen scored 19 points and Rebekkah Brunson had 18 for the Lynx (7-3), who were blown out in Los Angeles for the second time in 11 days.

Minnesota was going for back-to-back wins against the Sparks after a 24-point victory last Friday, but did not get closer than 19 points in the second half.

The Sparks opened the second half on a 10-4 run, capped by Ogwumike's basket on Parker's no-look pass to make it 70-43. Minnesota responded with an 8-0 run, but couldn't rally beyond that.

Parker's 21 first-half points came on 6-for-9 shooting as the Sparks closed on a 16-4 run for a 60-39 lead at the break. Parker took a slick pass from Lindsey Harding and finished a fast break with a basket and a foul before Harding fed her again for an uncontested layup to push the lead to 60-38.

Parker matched her career high with three 3-pointers in the first quarter, including the final two baskets of the quarter that gave LA the lead for good at 22-21.