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Minnesota Lynx prevail over the Sparks, 88-64

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MINNEAPOLIS — As Lindsay Whalen goes, so often go the Minnesota Lynx.

Whalen scored 20 points in the Lynx’s 88-64 victory over the Sparks on Friday night at Target Center.

Seimone Augustus had 19 points, and Devereaux Peters added 14 points and nine rebounds to help the Lynx improve to 7-2 with their fifth win in six games.

Candace Parker had 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Sparks (5-3), who beat Minnesota by 28 points June 21 at Staples Center. Kristi Toliver added 14 points.

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The teams are scheduled to meet again Tuesday night in Los Angeles.

The Sparks controlled the opening tap, but Whalen quickly took the ball from Lindsey Harding and went in for an uncontested layup.

Augustus had 12 points to help Minnesota take a 24-15 lead after one quarter.

Whalen scored the first seven points of the second quarter to start a 13-2 Minnesota run to increase the lead to 20 at 37-17. During the spurt, the Sparks went 5:34 without a point.

“We felt like in L.A. they punched us in the mouth first,” Augustus said. “They were the aggressors, so we definitely want to protect our home court and come out and be more aggressive.”

The Sparks had an 11-3 run to cut it to 40-28 late in the first half but — winless in three road games — could get no closer. They trailed by 29 in the fourth quarter.

“I wouldn’t say we punched; I thought we slapped at them a couple times,” said Sparks Coach Carol Ross. “We just were not as tough as we need to be.”

Minnesota outrebounded the Sparks 47-28.

The Sparks made 36.9% of their field goals after entering the game shooting a WNBA-best 48.7%.

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