LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dearica Hamby scored 20 points, Kelsey Plum had 14 of her 18 in the fourth quarter and the Los Angeles Sparks held off the Washington Mystics 81-78 on Sunday night.

Rickea Jackson had 16 for the Sparks (18-20), who started the day 2 1/2 games behind Golden State for the last playoff spot. Hamby and Azura Stevens both had 12 rebounds.

Kiki Irafen led the Mystics (16-25) with 22 points and 13 rebounds, the 15th double-double for the rookie. Sonia Citro added 12 points, Shakira Austin had 11 and Stefanie Dolson 10.

The Mystics, coming off a 37-point loss the night before that officially eliminated them from the playoffs, got off to a miserable start but pulled to 65-63 on Jade Melbourne's basket with 4:22 remaining. Plum then scored eight-straight L.A. points on two 3-po

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