Los Angeles Sparks Basketball Team

CHICAGO -- DeLisha Milton-Jones scored 24 points, including eight in overtime, to lead the Sparks to an 81-77 victory over the Chicago Sky on Tuesday. Rookie Sylvia Fowles, the second overall pick in the draft by Chicago, strained her knee in a third-quarter collision with Milton-Jones. She hobbled off the court and went to the hospital for an examination. She did not return, but Sky Coach Steven Key said Fowles will be fine.

They threw out the welcome mat in the Sparks' home opener Friday night, and the Phoenix Mercury were more than happy to pull it out from under them. The Sparks built an 18-point lead early the fourth quarter, giving the Staples Center fans plenty to cheer about, but Diana Taurasi and Cappie Pondexter were unstoppable down the stretch and the Sparks couldn't seem to do anything right, adding up to a 85-79 victory for the Mercury.

WASHINGTON -- Candace Parker had 15 points and 11 rebounds Saturday for her third double-double in four games as the Sparks defeated the Washington Mystics, 70-59. The Sparks (3-1) led by as many as 16 in the third quarter but fell behind by a point on Nakia Sanford's putback with just over six minutes left in the game. However, Los Angeles closed with an 18-6 run to extend its strong start while opening the season on a five-game trip.

PHOENIX -- Cappie Pondexter scored 27 points and the Phoenix Mercury held off the Sparks, 99-92, on Thursday night to end a three-game losing streak. The Sparks have lost four in a row on the road and six of their last nine games overall after a 10-3 start. The Mercury (10-12) led by 10 points going into the final quarter, but the Sparks (13-9) rallied to within 91-88 with 1:28 left.