Liberty 80, Mystics 76 (OT)

Bill Laimbeer and his New York Liberty are in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff chase.

With only a few games separating second and sixth place, every game is important. So the veteran coach knows that any loss could be devastating to the team's playoff chances.

New York looked to be cruising to an easy win before a 15-point third quarter lead evaporated and the Liberty had to scramble to hold off Washington in overtime in Tuesday night.

"For the win itself, it was a very big win for our franchise," Laimbeer said. "We're trying to catch anybody and everybody in front of us. ... Every win we can get, especially home wins are so important. It would have been very disappointing for us to lose this game."

Sugar Rodgers was a big reason why the Liberty (11-14) were able to pull off the victory. Trailing 73-71 in the extra period, Plenette Pierson made a tying jumper with 2 ½ minutes left. Rodgers then scored five straight, hitting a deep 3-pointer and a runner to put New York up 78-73 with 1:02 to go.

Bria Hartley, who sent the game into OT with a tying layup with 0.6 seconds remaining in regulation, made a 3 with 56 seconds to go. After Pierson made two free throws with 9.9 seconds left, the Mystics had one more chance. But there was Rodgers, forcing two jump balls in the final seconds to seal the victory.

"We know Sugar can play defense," Laimbeer said. "There's no question about that - she's a very solid defender and I had her in down the stretch because she's a solid defender."

Tina Charles scored 23 points to lead New York, which has won four of its past five games and now heads out for a key three-game road trip - all against Eastern Conference teams.

"These games are all important, but we'll take them one at a time," Charles said.

New York looked to be cruising to an easy win. The Liberty led 56-41 with 1:24 left in the third quarter before the Mystics got it going. Ivory Latta hit a 3-pointer to start a 25-10 run and Stefanie Dolson tied the score at 66 with 1:55 remaining. Charles answered with a runner in the lane to give New York the lead. After Washington came up empty on its possession, Anna Cruz hit a jumper from the corner to make it 70-66.

Washington wasn't done as Kara Lawson converted a three-point play with 22.7 seconds left. After New York turned over the inbounds pass, Rodgers stripped Monique Currie and hit a free throw to make it 71-69, setting up Hartley's game-tying shot.

Kia Vaughn had 12 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Mystics (13-14), who saw their four-game winning streak end.

"I hope we learn from it, if we lose this game and learn from it and it makes us better, great," Washington coach Mike Thibault said. "If it doesn't make us smarter, it's a waste."

Washington is still in second place in the Eastern Conference, but with all the teams so tight anything can happen down the stretch.

"Our running joke is that you could not play for three days and go up or down three places in the standings," Thibault said.

Mercury 90, Sparks 69

Diana Taurasi scored 17 points to help Phoenix cruise to its 16th straight win over Los Angeles.

The win gave Phoenix (22-3) the second-longest win streak in league history, passing Houston’s 15-game streak in 1998 and moving two games shy of the WNBA mark of 18 straight by Los Angeles in 2001.

Candice Dupree had 16 points and nine rebounds while Brittney Griner added 14 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots for the Mercury. Taurasi and Griner both sat out the fourth quarter.

Nneka Ogwumike had 18 points and nine rebounds for the Sparks (12-15), who are now 2-3 under new coach Penny Toler, having lost four of the last six overall. Toler took over at the All-Star break.

The Sparks played for the second consecutive game without leading scorer Candace Parker, who remained in California nursing a left knee strain.

Stars 92, Sky 74

Kayla McBride scored 16 to lead a balanced offense and San Antonio rolled to a victory over Chicago.

Danielle Adams had 14 points, Sophia Young-Malcolm added 12 and Shenise Johnson 11 for San Antonio (13-14). Jia Perkins scored 12 points on 5-for-8 shooting in her first game in a month.

Epiphanny Prince had 16 of her 23 points in the first quarter, Jamierra Faulkner added 16 and Sylvia Fowles scored 14 for Chicago (10-16).

The loss, combined with New York's 80-76 overtime victory against Washington, dropped the Sky 1 ½ games behind the Liberty for the East's fourth and final playoff spot.

Trailing 48-37 at the break, Chicago opened the second half on a 9-4 run before veterans Hammon and Young-Malcolm helped San Antonio regain its footing. The Stars led 70-56 lead entering the fourth.

Shock 80, Storm 74

Odyssey Sims scored 21 points, Glory Johnson had 19 points and 13 rebounds, and Tulsa beat Seattle.

Roneeka Hodges added a season-high 16 points and Skylar Diggins had 11 to become the Shock's single-season scoring leader with 564 points. Johnson's double-double was her 15th of the season for Tulsa (10-17).

Sue Bird scored 15 points and Tanisha Wright added 14 for Seattle (9-19). Camille Little and Crystal Langhorne had 13 points apiece.

Diggins entered the game needing seven points to become the franchise's single-season scoring leader. Deanna Nolan held the previous mark of 559, set in 2009 when the team was still in Detroit.

Diggins struggled to get any offense going in the first half, as the second-year guard was 1 for 5 from the field with four points. Diggins made a 3-pointer to open the second half to break Nolan's record.