WNBA L.A. Sparks clinch playoff series over Lynx

Lost Angeles held on to defeat Minnesota 74-64.
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Sparks needed every bit of cushion their 15-point lead provided in the second half against the Minnesota Lynx.
The Sparks' lead dwindled to seven points in the closing minutes, but they hung on to beat the Lynx 74-64 Monday night and clinch their WNBA first-round playoff series 2-1.
"We were able to withstand their flurry," Los Angeles coach Michael Cooper said. "Our starters can go 40 minutes. We don't like to play them like that, but we needed this win."
Leslie's 22 points leads way
Lisa Leslie scored 22 points, Tamecka Dixon added 14 points, DeLisha Milton and Nikki Teasley each had 13 and Mwadi Mabika had 12 as all five Sparks starters scored in double figures for the second consecutive game.
Dixon and Mabika played the entire 40 minutes; Milton and Teasley logged 39 minutes each and Leslie played 38 minutes.
"To have that experience out on the court is always a positive," Dixon said. "The only thing Minnesota did lack was experience."
The Sparks advanced to the Western Conference finals for the fifth consecutive year. They'll play either second-seeded Houston or No. 3 Sacramento. That series is tied 1-1 and Game 3 is tonight.
Williams leads Lynx
Tamika Williams led the Lynx with 17 points and nine rebounds -- the only Minnesota player to score in double figures. She blossomed in the playoffs, doubling her regular-season scoring average to 16 points and playing nearly 40 minutes in each game.
"Tamika Williams had a great series, kind of a coming out party," Dixon said. "She's going to be a pretty good player in this league."
Katie Smith had 11 points for the Lynx, who finished 18-17 after making the playoffs for the first time in their five-year existence. They overcame a 21-point deficit to win the opening game of the series in Minnesota, then lost the last two games in Los Angeles.
Minnesota had just four leads in the first two games, and never led in Game 3, when it shot 36 percent.
The Lynx trailed by 15 points early in the second half, then got within nine points with 1:42 remaining. But Teresa Edwards missed a 14-footer after committing two costly turnovers moments earlier.