WASHINGTON (AP), Brittney Sykes scored 21. The Los Angeles Sparks won 79-76 against the Washington Mystics to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
Los Angeles (13-20), who ended a six-game losing streak is one of five teams within two weeks of each other and are vying to be among the two final postseason berths. The Sparks are currently 1 1/2 games behind seventh-place Atlanta (14-18), and one game behind Phoenix (14-19) in contention for the final playoff spot with one week remaining in the regular season.
Washington is currently in a fight with Seattle for the fourth place. The Mystics trail by half-game with two more games.
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Sykes, as the shot clock was winding down, kissed the glass with a left-hander to give the Sparks an advantage of three points with 39.7 seconds remaining. Ariel Atkins responded with two free throws four seconds later. Elena Delle Donne blocked Nneka Omike's shot with 17 seconds remaining. Sykes missed a chance to score with a jumper just 10 seconds later. Olivia Nelson-Ododa then made two free throws to complete the scoring with 4.4 seconds left.
Natasha Cloud attempted to tie a potential heave from just outside half court as time expired. A foul was initially called but was later canceled by officials and the game was over without review.
Nneka Oluwumike and Katie Lou Samuelson each scored 15 points for the Sparks. Jordin Canada scored 11 points and Lexie Brown added 10 points.
Samuelson made a 3-pointer to make it 22-19 within the first quarter. Los Angeles was leading the rest of the game. Sykes scored back-to-back baskets to give Sparks their largest lead, at 40-27, late in the first period.
Myisha Hines Allen scored 17 of her 20 points in the second half for the Mystics (20-14). Atkins scored 20 points. Shakira Austin scored 16 on 6-of-9 shooting. She also grabbed 10 rebounds. Delle Donne was only 2 of 12 from the floor and finished with eight points as well as eight rebounds.
Kristi Tolliver (calf), and Chiney Ogwumike(face) did not play in Los Angeles.Washington is the owner of the Sparks' first round draft pick. This potential lottery selection was first traded to Los Angeles by the Atlanta Dream in the 2023 draft.
