Nneka Ogwumike leads Sparks to 71-65 victory over Stars

Nneka Ogwumike had 17 points and 10 rebounds and the Los Angeles Sparks ended their regular season with a 71-65 victory over the San Antonio Stars on Friday night.

The Sparks led by as many as 16 points before the Stars took their only lead, 63-62 with 1:30 left. Ogwumike answered with a three-point play, the Stars’ Monique Currie missed a 15-foot jumper on the other end and the Sparks held on for the win.

Jantel Lavender scored 14 points and Chelsea Gray added 13 for Los Angeles (26-8). The Sparks had already clinched the No. 2 seed into the playoffs and have won two consecutive since snapping a three-game skid.

The Sparks’ Candace Parker pulled up limping after a jump shot with 5:41 left in the second quarter. She then left with a sore right knee and did not return, finishing with two points. Parker averages 15.7 points and 31.4 minutes.

Moriah Jefferson scored 18 points and Currie added 17 to lead the WNBA-worst Stars (7-26).