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Sparks-Liberty Preview

Jul 8, 2009 - 5:30 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Los Angeles (3-6) at New York (3-6), 7:30 p.m. EDT

The Los Angeles Sparks hope Candace Parker's return helps them bounce back from a poor start. Her presence, though, wasn't enough for them to overcome the New York Liberty last season.

With Parker looking to improve upon a fairly quiet season debut, the Sparks look to end their struggles against the Liberty on Thursday night.

Parker, the league's MVP and top rookie last season, missed the first eight games of the season due to the birth of her daughter May 13. She was finally cleared to play Sunday night, finishing with six points and four rebounds in 20 minutes of Los Angeles' 104-89 loss to Phoenix.

The forward, who averaged 18.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in 2008, has been sorely missed by a Sparks team that has been without Lisa Leslie (knee) the past four games. Getting Parker back is certainly a positive step for Los Angeles (3-6), which shares the league's third-worst record with the Liberty after opening the season as a favorite to win the WNBA championship.

Parker averaged 15.5 points and 10.0 rebounds in two games against New York (3-6) last year, but Los Angeles lost both contests.

The Liberty have had their own troubles, though, opening the season by losing three straight and six of eight.

New York hasn't played since snapping a three-game skid last Thursday, beating Detroit 80-64 in a rematch of the last year's Eastern Conference finals. The Liberty defeated the defending champions in their first game since getting swept in a home-and-home series with Indiana from June 26-27.

New York has had yet another long layoff to regroup and fix its problems.

"We're very confident," said Liberty forward Shameka Christon, who had 25 points and three steals versus the Shock. "We believe in each other, we trust each other. That shows a lot of character with this team because we did not fold, we have not given up. We went back after every loss and practiced harder and harder and harder."

Christon, averaging a team-high 18.4 points, will try to lead New York to consecutive wins for just the second time.

"Everyone has goals of making it to the championship and the playoffs, but we went back and re-evaluated and put it to everyday terms," Liberty center Janel McCarville said.

McCarville would normally match up with Leslie, out until later this month, but veteran Tina Thompson has taken over at center for the Sparks.

Thompson has been the Sparks' leading scorer, averaging 13.4 points, but will relinquish more of the offensive burden as Parker becomes more comfortable.