Candace Parker leads Sparks past Sun, 93-82

Candace Parker scored 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Sparks to a 93-82 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Friday at Staples Center.

Kristi Toliver added 18 points and Nneka Ogwumike had 17 points and eight rebounds as the Sparks recorded their eighth straight win at home to improve to 14-1.

The Sparks (22-10), who had defeated Chicago on Thursday night, remained two games ahead of San Antonio for second place in the Western Conference. The Sun (22-9) suffered only its fourth road loss of the season. Connecticut stayed 11/2 games ahead of Indiana for first in the Eastern Conference.

Tina Charles returned to the lineup for Connecticut and had 21 points and 13 rebounds for her WNBA-leading 17th double-double. Charles missed a game for the first time in her WNBA career on Wednesday because of a groin strain.