PHOENIX, Aug. 5 (Ticker) -- The Phoenix Mercury likely will fall short of the playoffs, but Diana Taurasi certainly will not be to blame.

Taurasi continued her sensational campaign by scoring 15 of her 34 points in the third quarter as the Mercury captured a 96-80 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks.

NBA TV highlights from Sparks-Mercury: Play

Penny Taylor and Cappie Pondexter contributed 17 points apiece for the Mercury (14-16), who trail the Seattle Storm by 2 1/2 games for the final playoff berth in the Western Conference with only four contests remaining.

Taurasi finished 12-of-20 from the field and added seven assists, three blocks and a pair of steals for Phoenix, which has won three straight games. She needs only three points to break Katie Smith's league record of 739 points in a season, set with Minnesota in 2001.

The league's leading scorer at 24.6 points per game, Taurasi scored 17 points in the first half as Phoenix built a 44-37 advantage.

The third-year superstar really turned it on in the third quarter, when she made all four of her shots from the floor and 7-of-9 free throws. The Mercury outscored the Sparks, 33-21, in the quarter to open a 19-point lead entering the final period.

Murriel Page scored 18 points but superstar Lisa Leslie was held to a season-low eight for the Sparks (23-9), who already have clinched the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

Los Angeles lost the final three games of its eight-game road trip after winning four of the first five contests.

Next Games: The Mercury host the Lynx on Tuesday, while the Sparks host the Monarchs on Wednesday.