PHOENIX -- Diana Taurasi scored 26 points and made two free throws with 8 seconds left to ice the Phoenix Mercury's 70-66 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday night.
The Mercury (12-14) had their largest lead at 64-55 on Brittney Griner's basket with 6:33 left. Los Angeles crept within 68-66 on Kristi Toliver's 3-pointer with 1:24 left but would not score again. It was Toliver's 400th career 3-pointer.
Taurasi was 4 of 10 from 3-point range to help Phoenix improve to 4-1 in its last five games.
Candace Parker had 25 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists for Los Angeles (21-5), and Nneka Ogwumike added 15 points and nine rebounds for Los Angeles. The Sparks have lost four of five after opening 20-1. They dropped a half-game behind Minnesota for the WNBA lead.
