SEATTLE (AP) — Lauren Jackson had 17 points and nine rebounds, Sue Bird added 15 points and the Seattle Storm defeated the Los Angeles Sparks 82-60 on Friday night.
The Storm (9-1) opened the game on a 10-2 run. After a 3-pointer from DeLisha Milton-Jones pulled the Sparks (2-7) within three, the Storm answered with a 10-0 run capped by a 3-pointer from Bird to give Seattle a 20-7 lead.
Candace Parker was held in check because of her injured left shoulder and the defense of Jackson. Parker went to the locker room with 1:27 left in the first quarter. She returned to the court in the second quarter but couldn't get going offensively, being limited to just five points before the half.
Despite the injury, Parker was the only consistent offensive presence for the Sparks. She finished with 13 points and seven rebounds to lead the way for Los Angeles.
The Storm led 42-29 at the half before the Sparks started to pick away at the lead. Tina Thompson converted a 3-point play and Marie Ferdinand-Harris hit a jumper early in the third quarter to narrow the deficit to 48-37.
That was as close as the Sparks would get as the Storm quickly answered with an 8-2 run to take control of the game. Seattle opened the fourth quarter with a 9-2 run to put away Los Angeles for good.
Camille Little scored 13 points and Swin Cash added 11 points and six rebounds for Seattle.
Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton and Thompson each finished with 10 points for the Sparks.
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