Sparks make it a record-tying 11 in a row with 77-71 victory over Mercury

Candace Parker had 24 points, 11 rebounds and four assists, and the Los Angeles Sparks beat the Phoenix Mercury, 77-71, on Friday night to match the best start in WNBA history at 11-0.

The record was set Tuesday night when Minnesota (11-0) broke its own league mark. The Lynx will face Los Angeles in a home-and-home series next week.

Candice Dupree scored six straight Phoenix points to pull the Mercury to within four points, 73-69, with 3:56 left in the fourth quarter, but Phoenix didn’t score again until Diana Taurasi’s baseline jumper with 17.1 seconds left. Parker sealed it with two free throws with 16.5 seconds left.

Essence Carson added 12 points for the Sparks. Kristi Toliver made three of Los Angeles’ five three-pointers and finished with 10 points. Nneka Ogwumike had 10 points and three blocked shots.

Dupree scored 12 of her 16 points in the fourth quarter for Phoenix (4-7). Taurasi, who entered as the WNBA’s No. 2 scorer with an average of 24.1 points, was held to 15.