LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Los Angeles Sparks have won every game
they ever played at Staples Center. Now they'll get to play a
majority of their playoff games there.
The Sparks assured themselves of the best record in the Women's
National Basketball Association and the home-court advantage
throughout the playoffs accompanying it with a 79-67 victory over
the Phoenix Mercury Wednesday night.
The victory improved Los Angeles' record to 26-3, one more
victory than Cleveland could get if its wins its remaining four
games.
The Sparks also extended their WNBA-record winning streak to 17
games.
"They are a great team," said Phoenix coach Cynthia Cooper,
who as a player helped lead the Houston Comets to championships in
each of the WNBA's first four seasons.
Los Angeles also had the league's best record last year but was
swept in the Western Conference finals by Cooper's Comets.
"They're much more mature than last year and you can see it in
their faces as well as in the way they walk," Cooper said. "They
have a winning attitude and mentality about themselves and it helps
them be the team that they are. They are showing that they are very
focused and that they have one goal, which is to win the
championship."
Sparks coach Michael Cooper said he dreams about winning a
championship.
"I have night sweats about it," said Cooper, a former Los
Angeles Lakers player. "I want this more than anything. It takes
me back to my playing days with the Lakers and how you just want to
be called, 'the best.'
"I'm pretty sure the ladies feel my passion for it. I think
they are starting to develop a commitment and passion. They want it
too."
Los Angeles trailed only once, 2-0, during the game, held a
15-point first-half lead, 34-19, and was up 45-39 at halftime as
Lisa Leslie scored 15 of her 24 points.
The Mercury (11-18) began the second half by starting five
reserves and twice pulled within three. The Sparks were ahead 54-46
with 14:54 to play when Leslie left the game after picking up her
fifth foul. When she returned with 9:05 remaining, the Sparks led
66-52, thanks in part to an 8-0 run.
Leslie made her first shot after her return and a three-point
basket to give Los Angeles a 71-54 lead with 5:23 to play. She
fouled out with 4:41 to play, leaving the score unchanged. The
Sparks would lead by as many as 21 before the Mercury ran off 10
unanswered points.
Tamecka Dixon added 15 points and DeLisha Milton got 13 in front
of an announced crowd of 10,086 at Staples Center, where Los
Angeles is 15-0.
Trisha Fallon had 15 points off the bench and Jennifer Gillom
added 11 for Phoenix, which has lost its last six games and last
eight against the Sparks in Southern California. Nine of Mercury
losses have come by 10 points or more.
Los Angeles made 30 of 59 shots, or 50.8 percent, while Phoenix
made 24 of 66 for 36.4 percent.
The victory also extended the Sparks' WNBA-record home-court
winning streak to 21 games over the past two seasons, including the
final six of last season at the Forum, their former home.
 Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
|
|
ALSO SEE
WNBA Scoreboard
Phoenix team page
Los Angeles team page
|
