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The Los Angeles Sparks and Minnesota Lynx are one win away from meeting in the WNBA Finals after double-digit victories in the first two games of their respective semifinal series.The defending champion Lynx are seeking their fourth crown in six years, buoyed by a quartet that won Olympic gold with the U.S. national team in Rio. The Sparks have a shot at their first title since 2002 behind league MVP Nneka Ogwumike and two-time MVP Candace Parker.In St. Paul, Minnesota, Maya Moore scored 26 points, Lindsay Whalen had 12 of her 16 points in the fourth quarter and the Lynx beat the Phoenix Mercury 96-86 Friday night. Diana Taurasi had 31 points for the Mercury, who lost the series opener by 15 points.In Los Angeles, Parker had 20 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists in the Sparks 99-84 win over the Chicago Sky. Ogwumike added 18 points.Reserve Clarissa Dos Santos scored 15 points and Jamierra Faulkner added 14 off the bench for the Sky, who lost Game 1 by 20 points.Here are some things to watch when the semifinals resume Sunday:GOING HOMEThe Mercury started the playoffs in unprecedented fashion. Due to a combination of their No. 8 seed and the new playoff format, theyve had four playoff games on the road and none at home. After winning single-elimination games at Indiana and New York, they looked flat in two losses in Minnesota.We knew it was going to be a tall task, Taurasi said. Were not the freshest team, I can tell you that. Were not the youngest team either. But weve just got to find a way.THE MICROWAVELeague sixth woman of the year Jantel Lavender hit 10 of 11 shots and scored 20 points, matching Parkers total in the Sparks win.Shes a microwave. Thats what I call her, Parker said. She comes and she heats up.Ogwumike praised Lavenders willingness to do whatever is needed. Lavender had started the last two seasons before coming off the bench all year for the Sparks.Shell set a screen, run, box out, Ogwumike said. Shes that front court push that helps us control the flow of our game.GET GRINER GOINGPhoenix center Brittney Griner has been a non-factor in the first two games against the Lynx. She scored 16 points but had just two rebounds and was a minus-17 in the Game 1 blowout. Griner picked up two early fouls Friday night and was pulled less than two minutes in. She returned five minutes later and she got a third foul. Griner finished with two points and two rebounds in 18 minutes.This happens in the game of basketball, Taurasi said. And the way she reacts to it is going to tell us a lot about her. And I have the utmost confidence that shes going to come ready to play when we get home.WHERES THE D?Minnesota isnt happy with its defensive performance so far. Phoenix is averaging 90.5 point in the first two games. The Lynx allowed 77.0 points per game this season, and WNBA coach of the year Cheryl Reeve hopes going on the road will hone the defense.Weve been the best road team for reasons of playing great defense and rebounding the basketball, she said. Offense is not going to be easy, so the mindset is if we dont score, they dont score.BRAZILIAN FLAIRClarissa Dos Santos led Chicago with 15 points off the bench. The 6-foot-1 center averages 2.9 points as the second-best Brazilian on the Sky roster. Erika de Souza, a 10-year veteran, averages 5.8 points.Her verticals not the greatest, Chicago coach Pokey Chatman said of Dos Santos. Her attitude and effort is all you talk about in coaching. Shes able to affect the game. Her play and her energy spilled over to the other players. Well make sure we take that into Sunday.---Freelance writer Patrick Donnelly in St. Paul, Minnesota, contributed to this report.Mateo Kovacic Chelsea Jersey .J. Jefferson has been charged with assaulting his girlfriend. Antonio Rudiger Jersey . LOUIS -- Valtteri Filppula assisted on three of Tampa Bays four goals, and the Lightning beat the St. http://www.chelseafcproshop.com/Kids-Ngolo-Kante-Jersey/ . Thousands of Southern California fans enveloped the Trojans to celebrate an improbable win secured by an interim coach, an inconsistent kicker and a thin defence that wouldnt break. Emerson Jersey . There are surprises among the Vezina candidates, but most of the others are standard top-tier performers, even if the two Hart Trophy runners-ups have never been quite as good as they have been through the first half of the season. Jorginho Jersey . -- Whether Jeremy Hill deserves a prominent role in LSUs offence this early in the season is a matter for debate.OKLAHOMA CITY -- Kevin Durant started his free agency tour in a familiar place.Durant met with the Thunder on Thursday, hours before he officially hit the market.Video from Fox 25 in Oklahoma City shows Durant arriving at Chesapeake Energy Arena and being greeted by general manager Sam Presti.Durant still hasnt made it clear whether hes going to stay with the Thunder or chase a title elsewhere.The NBA has been anticipating Durants decision for more than a year, as rarely does such an accomplished player become a free agent in his prime. The 2014 MVP and four-time scoring champion led the Thunder to the NBA Finals in 2012, and to the Western Conference finals in four of the past six years -- and hes only 27. He recovered from a broken bone in his right foot that cost him much of last season to post one of the best years of his career.Staying with Oklahoma City makes sense for Durant. The Thunder had a 3-1 lead on the Warriors before losing the next three games. Durant and the Thunders young core could make a move in the West, provided that the youngest emerging stars -- Steven Adams and Enes Kanter -- continue to improve at their rapid pace. The Thunder made a draft night trade and sent forward Serge Ibaka to Orlando for guard Victor Oladipo, forward Ersan Ilyasova and draft pick Domantas Sabonis, strengthening the teamss depth and shoring up a question mark at shooting guard.ddddddddddddBut Durant will have strong suitors, as reports say he will meet with Golden State, San Antonio, Miami, Boston and the Clippers in the coming days.Durant can maximize his earning potential by re-signing a contract with the Thunder that allows him to become a free agent again next year, then signing a longer deal when the salary cap takes another big jump. The Thunder will be able to pay him the most in the long term.Shortly after the season ended, Durant spoke as though hed be back.Are we going to work on our game and come back even better, or are we going to be excited about what we did? Durant said. Be complacent, or are we going to want more? I think thats the next step for us all -- thinking of how we can all be better.Durant said he would limit outside influences before making his choice.Ive got to just hear from me and hear what I want, and talk to myself on what I need and how I can make this thing work for myself, and just try to be a little selfish, he said. Obviously, Im going to have some advice, but also, I want to make the decision thats best for me.---Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CliffBruntAP. ' ' '