The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE reigning MVP is playing her best basketball of the season and the Connecticut Sun have secured a top three seed for the WNBA playoffs as the regular season continues to wind down.

Jonquel Jones posted 21 points and 10 rebounds - both game highs - to lead the Sun to a 97-71 win over the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday night before 5,789 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.

It was Jones’ fourth consecutive double double and their 11th of the season.

Jones was the force behind the Sun’s dominance on the boards as they had a 17-rebound advantage and shot 50 percent from the field.

With the win, the Sun improved to 23-11, second in the Eastern Conference, behind the Chicago Sky who lead the conference and league at 25-9.

The Las Vegas Aces lead the Western Conference at 24-10.

The Sun have two games remaining in the regular season, tonight against the Sparks for the second consecutive game and against the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday.

Las Vegas, concludes the season with matchups against the Sky today and the Seattle Storm on Sunday.

Following the matchup with the Aces, the Sun will face the Phoenix Mercury in the finale.

In Tuesday night’s matchup, the Sparks trimmed the deficit to just five points at the five-minute mark in the first half.

The Sun would respond with an 18-2 run, to take a 53-32 lead at the half. Jones scored 10 of the Sun’s 18 points during the run. Connecticut stayed a game behind second-place Las Vegas in the playoff chase.

Los Angeles (13-21) sits in 11th, with an outside shot of passing three teams for the final playoff spot.

Los Angeles was undone by 20 turnovers and Connecticut’s 40-23 edge on the boards. Brionna Jones added 14 points, Natisha Hiedeman scored 13 and Alyssa Thomas had 11 points, seven assists and four steals for Connecticut. DeWanna Bonner scored 10 points.

Los Angeles turned it over 13 times in the first half and got outrebounded 23-12. Brittney Sykes scored 18 points and Nneka Ogwumike added 16 for Los Angeles. Jordin Canada added 15 points. Ogwumike moved past Diana Taurasi for 22nd on the WNBA career steals list with 485.

A top-four seed in the WNBA postseason will secure home-court advantage for the first round.

Jones’ recent streak began with 10 points and 10 rebounds, followed by 14 points, 10 rebounds in back-to-back wins over Phoenix. She also posted 17 points and 10 rebounds in a loss to Chicago.