New York 69, Los Angeles 68

NEW YORK, July 25 (AP) -- Janel McCarville's layup with 6.4 seconds left lifted the New York Liberty to a 69-68 win over the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday night.

The Sparks got Lisa Leslie, Candace Parker, and DeLisha Milton-Jones back from their one game suspensions for their involvement in Tuesday's altercation with the Detroit Shock. The three Olympians missed Thursday night's 87-61 loss at Connecticut.

Having their three stars back wasn't enough to help Los Angeles (14-12) overcome playing on back-to-back nights.

Trailing 68-67 with 11 seconds left, McCarville drove on Leslie and scored in the lane. Los Angeles had one last chance, but Leslie's shot in the lane at the buzzer bounced off the rim.

McCarville led New York with 15 points and Shameka Christon added 13.

Milton-Jones led the Sparks with 19 points and Leslie added 16 points and 13 rebounds.

The Sparks were still short-handed - missing Shannon Bobbitt and Murriel Page, who were both suspended two games by the league for their involvement in the scuffle. Bobbitt sat out the loss to Connecticut, but Page was allowed to play so that the Sparks would be able to suit up the league minimum eight players.

Bobbitt missed her first chance to play at home in New York. She had played in the Garden before as she led Murray Bergtraum to two New York City public high school titles.

Parker, the top pick in the last draft, was excited to get to play at Madison Square Garden.

"It's my first time here,'' Parker said. "It means a lot, it's a legendary place to play.''

The former Tennessee star finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

The Liberty (14-10) have won five of their last six games with the only loss coming in the Outdoor Classic.

New York beat Los Angeles 89-78 in Los Angeles on July 12, rallying from an 11-point fourth quarter deficit. On Friday night it was the Sparks, who almost rallied from 11 down.

New York led 56-50 after three quarters and scored the first five points of the fourth period before Los Angeles clamped down on defense and held the Liberty without a field goal over the next 5 minutes.

The Sparks went on a 9-1 run capped by Milton-Jones' 3-pointer with 3:35 left to make it 62-59.

Ashley Battle ended New York's scoreless drought with a floater in the lane to extend the lead to five.

Los Angeles scored the next six points and took its first lead since early in the first quarter on Milton-Jones' free throw with 43.1 seconds left.

Cathrine Kraayeveld, who finished with 11 points, hit a 3-pointer from the wing to give New York a 67-65 advantage with 27.4 seconds left.

After a timeout, Kiesha Brown then hit a 3-pointer from the left wing with 15 seconds left to restore the Sparks' lead setting up the exciting finish.