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Silver Stars-Sparks Preview

Aug 3, 2009 - 8:09 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

San Antonio (8-10) at Los Angeles (6-10), 3:00 p.m. EDT

The Los Angeles Sparks were 1.3 seconds away from the WNBA finals last season before the San Antonio Silver Stars dealt them heartbreaking, back-to-back losses to eliminate them from the playoffs.

On Tuesday afternoon at Staples Center, the teams meet for the first time since then as they begin their four-game season series.

DeLisha Milton-Jones' layup in Game 2 of the 2008 West finals put the Sparks on the verge of their first league finals berth since 2003, but Sophia Young's turnaround jumper at the buzzer gave San Antonio a 67-66 victory. The Silver Stars went on to win 76-72 in Game 3 and reach the championship round, where they fell to Detroit.

Los Angeles started 10-3 last season, but with reigning MVP and 2008 rookie of the year Candace Parker out the first eight games this season after the birth of her daughter May 13, the Sparks (6-10) have struggled in the early going.

Los Angeles, though, completed an encouraging 3-4 stretch of road games with Saturday's 59-56 victory over Sacramento. Parker had 13 points and 12 rebounds while Milton-Jones scored 13 as Los Angeles won its final road game until Aug. 15.

The Sparks play five straight and seven of their next eight at home.

"It will be nice to sleep in our own beds and get out of the hotels," Parker said. "Everyone has already counted this team out, but we're not done yet. If we win on Tuesday we're in fourth place."

Los Angeles, 3-1 at home, hasn't played at Staples Center since Parker made her season debut in a 104-89 loss to Phoenix on July 5.

San Antonio (8-10) will be trying to avoid its first three-game slide since being swept by the Shock in the finals.

The Silver Stars dropped their third straight on the road Saturday, 85-82 in overtime to Seattle.

WNBA leading scorer Becky Hammon, averaging 20.9 points, paced San Antonio with 20 and added a season-high 10 rebounds. She averaged 17.0 points and 5.3 assists as the Silver Stars and Sparks split four regular-season meetings in 2008.

After hitting a 3-pointer at the buzzer in a 74-71 victory over the Storm last Tuesday, Young had 13 points and six boards Saturday, shooting 4-of-14 from the field.

Including playoffs, the home team in this series has won the last seven meetings since San Antonio defeated Los Angeles 84-77 in overtime Aug. 14, 2007, at Staples.

The Sparks and Silver Stars meet again Aug. 21 in San Antonio.