PHOENIX, Ariz. – In a physical game from the tip, the Los Angeles Sparks fell 82-72 to the Phoenix Mercury in the finale of a two-game road trip. Candace Parker proved third times the charm and notched a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds in her third game back from injury. After tonight’s contributions, Parker pushed past Swin Cash for 17th on the WNBA All-Time Scoring list. She totaled 5,123 career points at the end of the night. Nneka Ogwumike posted 11 points and 13 rebounds for the Sparks, her fourth double-double this season while sister Chiney Ogwumike scored 12 points on the night. Leilani Mitchell recorded 22 points, seven rebounds and five assists for the Mercury.

With three fouls called in the first 30 seconds, the first points of the match-up came from a pair of free throws by Parker. The Sparks started the first quarter creating more dynamic offense than in recent games. Lelani Mitchell scored the Mercury’s first field goal of the game that N. Ogwumike quickly returned, tossing a 26-foot 3-pointer off the glass to take the lead. With Chelsea Gray leading the momentum, Los Angeles looked powerfully offensive.

Tierra Ruffin-Pratt converted great defense into great offense with a steal from Mitchell and turned a jumper for the Sparks. Soon after, Ruffin-Pratt stepped outside the arch on the left side for almost back-to-back three pointers. With one minute remaining in the first quarter, Ruffin-Pratt had scored more than her season points per game average with eight. Sparks held a one-point lead at the end of the first, 26-25.

Rookie Marina Mabrey provided a steal of her own to open up the second and returned it as a layup, assisted off a board by N. Ogwumike. Mabrey’s attempted 3-pointers continuously gave Los Angeles the opportunity to return offensive rebounds. N. Ogwumike took advantage and totaled five on the night.

Phoenix took a lead shortly after the start of the second quarter with a 3-pointer from Briann January. The Sparks battled back, adding a Parker 3-pointer and a duo of layups but the Mercury began to grow the lead at the end of the second.

Gray took DeWanna Bonner one-on-one in the paint and put up a last minute driving layup to cut the Phoenix lead to two points at halftime, 44-42.

At the start of the second half, Ruffin-Pratt hit her third 3-pointer, assisted by Alana Beard. The Mercury’s Essence Carson went on an eight-point run with back-to-back 3-pointers and a two-point field goal, bookended by layups from Griner. The Mercury continued to lead, 56-48 with three minutes left in the third quarter.

Alexis Jones entered the game in the third and tossed C. Ogwumike a bounce-pass for a layup. She drew the foul, and shot two. Not 20 seconds later, N. Ogwumike grabbed an offensive rebound and passed to C. Ogwumike, who put up back-to-back layups and had the Sparks four points back of the Mercury at the end of the third, 60-56.

Parker hit a 3-pointer and Jones hit a pull-up shot to open the final quarter but the Mercury were not done yet. Phoenix added a trio of 3-pointers to grow the gap and end the physical game at their largest lead, 82-72.