Candace Parker injured as Sparks improve to 18-1

Candace Parker hit four three-pointers and finished with 26 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists to help the Sparks beat the Washington Mystics, 93-82, on Sunday at Staples Center.

Nneka Ogwumike had 22 points and Jantel Lavender had 20 on nine-for-11 shooting for the Sparks, who won their seventh in a row and, at 18-1, need two wins to tie the 1998 Houston Comets for the best start in WNBA history.

Lavender scored eight points during a 20-8 spurt that gave the Sparks a 76-64 lead with seven minutes and Parker scored nine consecutive points to fuel a run that gave the Sparks an 88-71 lead with 3:41 left. However, she left the game in the final minutes after suffering an apparent ankle injury.

The Sparks shot 62.5 percent (10 of 16) in the fourth quarter.

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