PHOENIX — The Sparks did their best to extend their season, but they didn’t get the help they needed elsewhere and will miss the playoffs for a fifth consecutive year.

Dearica Hamby scored 16 of her 25 points in the fourth quarter, Rae Burrell had a career-high 20 points off the bench and the Sparks beat the Phoenix Mercury, 88-83, on Tuesday night but the Sparks were eliminated from the playoff race when Seattle edged Golden State to secure the eighth and final postseason berth.

The Sparks needed a win and a Seattle loss to send the chase for the final playoff spot to the last day of the season on Thursday night, but the Storm pulled out a 74-73 win at home, a game that ended moments after the Sparks’ victory.

The Sparks will conclude their season with a home game against the surging L

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