Candace Parker gets Sparks back on winning track

Candace Parker scored 24 points and the Sparks snapped a four-game losing streak with an 87-77 win over the Tulsa Shock on Thursday night at Staples Center.

Parker scored 16 of the Sparks’ 25 third-quarter points and finished with seven rebounds and six assists. Alana Beard scored 20 points and Jantel Lavender had 18 points and a career-high 13 rebounds as the Sparks (4-7) avoided their worst start since 2010.

Glory Johnson 22 points and 10 rebounds, and Skylar Diggins added 16 points for the Shock (4-6), whose four-game winning streak came to an end.

Tulsa took a 50-43 early in the third before the Sparks went on a 12-2 run.

Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike left the game with a bruised nose when she was hit underneath the basket with 5 minutes 37 seconds left in the third quarter.

Parker, who had 18 points on five-for-14 shooting in the Sparks’ loss June 13 loss to Tulsa, was on target Thursday. She made seven of 16 shots overall, including one three-pointer, and sank nine of 11 free throws.