Road is tough on Sparks

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.

Lisa Leslie and DeLisha Milton-Jones each missed short jumpers for the Sparks on a possession in the final minute. Diana Taurasi, who scored 23 points for Phoenix, then made four consecutive free throws to secure the win.

Milton-Jones, who averages 13.1 points, scored 19 of her 38 in the first quarter and topped her previous career high of 26 points before halftime. She ended the night making 13 of 20 shots, five of eight from three-point range, and had six rebounds and four assists.

Phoenix won for only the second time in its last seven games.

The Sparks’ Candace Parker, the leading scorer among rookies in the WNBA, scored 23 points and grabbed 13 rebounds.