Sparks clinch playoff berth with victory over Lynx

Tina Thompson scored 26 points and grabbed nine rebounds, and DeLisha Milton-Jones netted 24 points to lead the Sparks to a 98-91 comeback win over the Minnesota Lynx, clinching a Western Conference playoff spot.

The combatants came in tied with San Antonio for the final two positions in the West, and the Silver Stars upended the Fever earlier on Friday to give the Sparks a win-and-in scenario as a result of them sweeping the season series with Minnesota, which would be the odd-team out if the teams ended in a three- way tie.

Kristi Toliver and Noelle Quinn tallied 14 and 13 points, respectively, for LA, which was coming off a 90-84 loss against Phoenix on Tuesday.

Charde Houston paced Minnesota with 21 points, while Lindsay Whalen scored 16 to go with seven assists in the loss.

The Lynx will need a win against Indiana on Sunday, a loss by San Antonio to Phoenix on Sunday and a win by LA on Saturday to make the playoffs.

The Sparks entered the fourth quarter trailing 69-64, but took the lead for good, 75-74, on Thompson’s three-point play with 6:16 remaining.

That possession was part of a 16-6 run that Milton-Jones capped with an 18- foot jumper for a commanding 90-80 lead with just over two minutes left.