Sparks fail to break losing streak in loss to San Antonio, 101-74

SAN ANTONIO — Danielle Robinson scored a season-high 24 points and the San Antonio Stars rolled to a 101-74 victory over the Sparks on Saturday night, snapping a three-game home skid.

On the eve of Game 5 of the NBA Finals at the AT&T Center, the Stars used some of the same ball movement and bench depth that has the Spurs on the verge of a fifth NBA title.

Kayla McBride scored 20 points, Jia Perkins added 16 and Becky Hammon and Shameka Christon had 10 each for San Antonio (5-6). It was Hammon’s second game in double figures this season after missing all but 12 minutes last season following a torn left ACL.

Candace Parker had 16 points, Jantel Lavender scored 15 and Lindsey Harding added 12 for Los Angeles (3-6), which has lost three straight.

The Sparks were credited with three blocked shots in the first half, but appeared to tip a couple more and altered many others. Parker took advantage of the mismatches created by the defensive switches on pick-and-rolls in going 7 for 11 from the field.

San Antonio turned to its perimeter game and quickness to overcome the disadvantage in the post and finish with a season-high scoring total.

Five players scored as San Antonio went on a 13-6 run midway through the second quarter.

The run culminated with Robinson tipping away an attempted lob into the paint, triggering a fast break that led to Perkins’ layup and a 43-40 lead with 2:34 remaining in the half.

San Antonio’s hot shooting continued, with McBride and Hammon hitting consecutive 3s and Robinson pulling up for a 13-foot jumper on a fast break for a 68-52 lead with 4:53 left in the third quarter.

McBride finished 6 for 8, including 4 for 4 on 3-pointers, after a combined 5-for-27 shooting overall in her previous two games.