Thompson’s 30 lifts Sparks

Tina Thompson took a page from Boston Celtics star Ray Allen’s playbook and helped the Sparks end a losing streak at three games.

Thompson shook off a three-for-11 start from the field to score a season-high 30 points to lead the Sparks to a 76-70 victory over the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday.

After the Sparks let a 13-point halftime lead evaporate and trailed by as many as three points in the fourth quarter, Thompson scored 10 points in a late 14-6 run.

“I kind of have adopted the Ray Allen mentality, if you don’t make the first four you have to count on the fifth one going in,” Thompson said. “You can’t get down when you miss shots.”

Thompson finished 11-for-24 shooting.

Candace Parker, playing in her sixth game following maternity leave, earned her second straight double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Betty Lennox and DeLisha Milton-Jones both had 11 points for the Sparks (5-9), who earned their second road victory in 10 tries while improving to 2-3 on a seven-game trip.

“People have to understand we’ve yet to see our full team in effect,” Coach Michael Cooper said. “We’ve got Candace coming back, Lisa [Leslie] has yet to come back, and hopefully that will happen very soon. So whatever is to be said and done is going to have to come through L.A.”