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Shock-Sparks Preview

Aug 5, 2010 - 5:06 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Tulsa (5-22) at Los Angeles (9-17), 10:30 p.m. EDT

Despite missing their top player, the Los Angeles Sparks opened a four-game homestand on a positive note. The likely return of Tina Thompson should only improve the Sparks' chances going forward.

With Thompson looking to move closer to the WNBA's all-time scoring record, the Sparks continue their playoff push Friday when they face a Tulsa Shock team trying to build on an impressive victory.

Already playing without star Candace Parker (dislocated left shoulder) and longtime veteran Betty Lennox (torn left meniscus), Los Angeles (9-17) had just eight players available Wednesday after Thompson left the team to attend a friend's funeral.

Without Thompson, who is 26 points shy of passing former Sparks star Lisa Leslie for the most in league history with 6,264, second-year forward Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton stepped in with career highs of 16 points and 13 rebounds and Los Angeles defeated Chicago 82-77 to climb within one-half game of Minnesota for the Western Conference's fourth and final playoff spot.

"I'm sure everybody in the WNBA probably thought we would lose this game with the eight players we have," said coach Jennifer Gillom, whose team has won four of six following a 1-4 stretch. "That just proves to me and goes to show you that players with the most heart can win games."

The league-worst Shock (5-22) proved that in their last game, forcing 24 turnovers and defeating WNBA-best Seattle 84-75 on Tuesday to snap a seven-game skid.

Scholanda Robinson scored 12 of her career-high 21 points in the third quarter as Tulsa won its first home game since June 4.

"Just so excited," said coach Nolan Richardson. "A little bit of relief, but it just feels really good. We put a great game together from beginning to end. It is just domination. We beat the best team in our league and it just shows what a great team we are. When we come to play our game and we play for 40 minutes, we can beat anybody."

In its last visit to Staples Center, Tulsa lost 86-83 in overtime on July 20 despite using a 17-4 run to lead by two points with 46 seconds remaining. Thompson's 17-foot jumper with 18 seconds left forced the extra period, and she finished with 15 points and six rebounds.

DeLisha Milton-Jones added a season-high 23 points while Sparks guard Ticha Penicheiro scored 10 with a career-high 13 assists, seven rebounds and five steals.

Robinson led the Shock with 19 points.

Los Angeles is trying to win three consecutive games at Staples Center for the first time since Aug. 18-25. Tulsa owns a league-worst 2-10 road record.