LOS ANGELES -- Nneka Ogwumike grew up as part of a dazzling hoops sister act with her sibling, Chiney.But since coming to the Sparks, her pairing with Candace Parker has helped Ogwumike win the leagues MVP award and has Los Angeles a victory away from a WNBA title.Its like I have another sister now, Ogwumike said after the Sparks 92-75 victory over Minnesota on Friday in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals. Ive learned so much from her, and I think shes learned from me.We play through our mistakes together, were always communicating, were switching people on defense. Were that voice in each others head that really gets us going. Thats the relationship weve developed.Ogwumike actually has three younger sisters, including Connecticut Sun star and former Stanford teammate Chiney, but Parker has been like her older sister. Since Ogwumike was drafted No. 1 by the Sparks in 2012 -- Parker was the top pick in 2008 -- weve watched this duo develop. Friday was an exceptional showcase of just how much this tandem means to the Sparks.In a game in which the Sparks aggression and energy were exactly what they hoped for, the table was set for Parker and Ogwumike to feast. Parker had 24 points and nine rebounds, Ogwumike 21 and nine. They were a combined 19-of-33 from the field and helped Los Angeles win the board battle 29-24 for just the second time in the teams six meetings this season.Theyre our team, said Sparks guard Alana Beard of the post duo, although she had a heck of a game herself with 15 points and a game-high seven assists. Theyre two different players who make each other better. I think Game 2 was a prime example of what happens when they dont play in sync. And tonight was an example of when they do.Nneka does all the little things, and Candace is one of the best all-around players in the game. So it works.It sure did Friday, and the Lynx were not able to do much to stop it.Its absolutely all on the want-to of Nneka Ogwumike and Candace Parker to start the game, Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said. And then [Essence] Carson and Beard throughout the game. Their want-to was on 10, which is exactly where you would expect it to be.They won the persistency battle. We didnt rise to the occasion. We were soft. Did I see that coming? Absolutely not. It was disappointing, to say the least.Parker and Ogwumike are such a 1-2 punch, though, that they can knock the stuffing out of other teams. Even a team with three championships like Minnesota.The Sparks havent won a WNBA title since 2002; Parker was 16 years old then and Ogwumike 12. Parker won two NCAA titles while at Tennessee; Ogwumike led Stanford to the Final Four each of her four seasons but didnt win a championship.Once they were together with the Sparks, they knew they could help each other to a title. But it would take collaboration and flexibility from both. Parker, as great a player as she is, can get lost in her own ruminating sometimes and tend toward pessimism. Ogwumike, by contrast, could be president for life of the look on the sunny side club.They balance each other really well, Beard said. Nneka is the one whos always going to be optimistic in everything. Candace is more of a thinker who will analyze everything.Parkers analysis of her own performance in the first two games of this series was pull-no-punches brutal.I was nonexistent until this game, Parker said. Even the first game, we squeaked it out with Alanas buzzer-beater, but I wasnt effective.Thats harsh. Parker had 14 points, nine rebounds and three assists in the Sparks 78-76 victory in Game 1. But she was disappointed that she didnt have more of an impact in the fourth quarter. And disappointed doesnt even begin to describe her evaluation of her 3-of-12 struggle for six points, with four rebounds, in Tuesdays 79-60 loss.I had to look myself in the mirror; thats not what I want to give, Parker said. I still need to be aggressive for my team, even when things arent going my way. My teammates told me, and my coach told me.Thats where I think this team is special: Were able to be honest with each other because we know its coming from a good place.Parker said the bond she has with Ogwumike was particularly strengthened by the difficulties the team went through in 2014, when coach Carol Ross was fired in late July after 22 games, and general manager Penny Toler took over on the sidelines. Los Angeles finished 16-18 and got swept in the Western Conference semifinals by eventual champion Phoenix.The Sparks had been expecting so much more that season, and it was crushing to them to have not come closer to reaching their potential. Brian Agler took over as coach for 2015, and Parker sat out the first part of the season to rest. But once she returned, things really began to click. The Sparks lost 2-1 in the conference semifinals to Minnesota last year, but the seeds were sown for this season when they went 26-8 and had the second-best record behind the Lynx.Ogwumike had the best season of her young career and won the MVP award. Her rise to the most elite level of the WNBA didnt stir any sibling rivalry with Parker, a two-time MVP herself. In fact, no one was happier than Parker, who says of Ogwumikes zest for playing, I really respect her. That girl never stops.As Beard said, Parker and Ogwumike have cultivated some of their own best qualities in each other.I definitely feel I am a little more fierce now because of her, Ogwumike said. And I think my looking at the bright side of things ... is something that I hope has rubbed off on her. 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Lack made 20 saves for his third shutout of the season as the Canucks blanked the St. Louis Blues 1-0 in the first post-Olympic game for both teams night. Wholesale Adidas Superstar Slip On . The 15th-ranked Canadian men lost the opening two games of their European tour: 19-15 to No. 17 Georgia and 21-20 to No.BOSTON -- Jose Iglesias hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning, Justin Verlander pitched six solid innings and the Detroit Tigers beat the Red Sox 4-2 on Monday night to spoil Drew Pomeranzs second start with Boston.Victor Martinez and James McCann also drove in runs for the Tigers. Detroit pulled within 5 1/2 games of idle AL Central-leading Cleveland.Verlander (10-6) allowed one run and five hits and struck out five to pick up the victory. He is 3-0 in his last five starts.Francisco Rodriguez earned his 28th save.Pomeranz (8-8), recently acquired from the San Diego Padres, gave up four hits and struck out seven in six innings. Both of the runs he allowed came via Iglesias homer.Boston failed to homer Monday, ending a streak of 15 straight games with at least one.Pomeranz entered Mondays start looking to bounce back from his dismal Boston debut last week against San Francisco, in which he gave up five runs in just three innings.He was cruising through five innings Monday, allowing just two hits. That changed in the sixth when Iglesias crushed Pomeranzs fastball high over the Green Monster in left for a two-run homer to put the Tigers up 2-1.Iglesias scored his second run of the game in the eighth, trotting across home plate on Martinezs single off reliever Clay Buchholz to make it 4-1.Boston loaded the bases on three straight singles off Justin Wilson to begin its half of the eighth. A single by Sandy Leeon pulled the Red Sox within 4-2, but Wilson settled down to get an out and Rodriguez came on to help end the rally.ddddddddddddostons hitters had several long at-bats against Verlander, pushing his pitch count above 40 through just two innings. In the second, Travis Shaw lined a double into the right-field corner, scoring Jackie Bradley Jr.TRAINERS ROOMTigers: RHP Jordan Zimmermann, who has been sidelined since July 1 with a right neck strain, began a rehab assignment in Triple-A Toledo on Sunday night. He threw four scoreless innings, giving up two hits and striking out two.Red Sox: CF Mookie Betts returned to the lineup Monday after missing a pair of games with right knee soreness. ... Manager John Farrell said RHP Craig Kimbrel (left knee surgery) is progressing well and looked good in a short bullpen session. He could make a rehab start as soon as this weekend.UP NEXTTigers: RHP Mike Pelfrey (3-9, 4.78 ERA) is coming off a victory at Chicago last week, in which he allowed the White Sox just one run in 5 1/3 innings. Pelfrey hasnt allowed a home run his last eight road starts, spanning 45 1/3 innings.Red Sox: RHP Steven Wright (12-5, 2.67) has won his last four starts. His lone appearance against Detroit was last July, when he allowed four runs over 4 1/3 innings in a loss. ' ' '