Nneka Ogwumike scores 20 points as Sparks defeat Mystics

Nneka Ogwumike scored 20 points to lead five players in double figures Sunday as the Los Angeles Sparks rallied in the final three minutes to earn a 91-83 win over the Washington Mystics in Washington, D.C.

Ogwumike canned a short jumper with 2:14 left to give Los Angeles (10-18) the lead for good at 79-78, then fed Karlie Samuelson for a critical 3-pointer with 1:19 left for an 83-78 advantage. Rae Burrell and Jordin Canada combined to make eight straight free throws in the last 33 seconds.

Azura Stevens added 17 before fouling out for the Sparks, who won for just the third time in 14 games. Canada contributed 15 points and seven assists, while Samuelson tallied 13 points and Zia Cooke netted 10 off the bench.

Tianna Hawkins scored a game-high 23 points for the Mystics (13-14), while Brittney Sykes added 17 and Natasha Cloud hit for 13 points. Sykes was ejected with 33 seconds left in the game after drawing her second technical foul as Washington lost for the sixth time in eight games.

Washington led 71-61 with 8:42 remaining in the game after Li Meng sank a 3-pointer and still owned an eight-point cushion as late as 6:06 to play. But Los Angeles outscored the Mystics 22-6 over the final 5:59, allowing only two field goals in that span.

Los Angeles controlled most of the first half behind Stevens and Ogwumike, who had their way with a Washington team that has experienced difficulties lately against any opponent with a decent scoring presence inside.

Stevens, who led the Sparks in scoring with 19 points in Friday night's 79-77 loss, hit all six of her shots in the first half to lead all scorers with 13. And Ogwumike added 11 points, going 5 of 6 at the foul line, as Los Angeles established a 43-36 lead at the break.

But the Mystics suddenly clicked into rhythm with 29 third quarter points, leaning on Hawkins to do the damage. She pumped in 12 points in the quarter as Washington turned a seven-point deficit into a 65-61 advantage going to the fourth period.