Sparks have five more games on road trip as Parker heads to Los Angeles for MRI

While New York (4-4),got their first win at their temporary home in Newark at the Prudential Center, beating Los Angeles 77-67, the Sparks (4-3) not only suffered defeat but also lost their star forward for at least one game.

After scoring 16 points and pulling down 11 rebounds, Candace Parker injured her right knee with about six minutes left in the third quarter after grabbing a defensive rebound.

"Right now we don’t know, we’re going to get her an MRI and we’re just hoping for the best. It’s tough but we’re hoping everything is alright," Sparks head coach Jennifer Gillom said after the game. "We’ve played without her before so we just have to focus on getting to the next game and playing hard and having people step up. She just said, ‘keep me in your prayers,’ and that’s’ all we can do for her right now and just hope for the best. She’s in good spirits, which is a good thing."

The 6-4 star and wife of New York Knicks reserve forward Shelden Williams left the arena on crutches and headed back to Los Angeles today for the MRI. She entered Sunday’s game ranked sixth in the WNBA in scoring and third in rebounding.

The Sparks are in the midst of a seven-game road trip and face the Connecticut Sun Tuesday followed by games at Phoenix, Seattle, San Antonio and Tulsa. The game against the Sun will be nationally-televised on ESPN2 and is scheduled for a 5 p.m. PT tip-off. The Sparks won four games in a row before losing at San Antonio on Friday in overtime, 90-80. They do not have another home game until July 17 – a contest against Washington followed by a rematch with San Antonio on July 18.