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Sparks-Silver Stars Preview

Aug 21, 2009 - 4:02 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Los Angeles (11-13) at San Antonio (11-13), 8:00 p.m. EDT

The Los Angeles Sparks are in the midst of their most successful stretch of the season. Trying to extend that run might not be an easy task with the San Antonio Silver Stars standing in their way.

The surging Sparks try for a fourth straight victory while looking for their first win at San Antonio in more than three years when these Western Conference rivals meet Friday night.

One half-game separates Los Angeles (11-13) and San Antonio in the West. While a season-high three-game winning streak has helped propel the Sparks into third place, the Silver Stars (11-14) are tied with Minnesota for the fourth and final playoff spot after falling 93-87 at Atlanta on Thursday.

Each team could play a big part in helping determine the other's playoff status as they meet two more times next month.

While Los Angeles has won its last three games by an average margin of 11.6 points, it will try to snap a three-game regular-season losing streak at San Antonio since winning 81-67 there July 26, 2006.

The Silver Stars won both games at home to eliminate Los Angeles in the conference finals a year ago.

The Sparks are also looking to avenge a 63-59 home loss to the Silver Stars on Aug. 4. Los Angeles star Lisa Leslie had 13 points in that contest - her first action since a sprained right knee sidelined her for almost two months.

Leslie, who has announced she is retiring after the season, scored a season-high 28 points in the Sparks' 76-63 victory over Minnesota on Monday. The 37-year-old center made 13 of 15 shots before leaving to a standing ovation with 5:01 remaining in the contest.

"That's the only way I know how to play," Leslie said of her intensity. "Maybe I'm the last of the Mohicans from that (first WNBA) generation, because it's definitely changing."

Leslie's averaging 18.2 points in eight games since returning from a injury that she feels is no longer a burden.

"I'm not playing with pain," Leslie said. "I don't really think about my knee and the brace. I would love to take it off. I think I could play without it."

All-Star Becky Hammon - who had 20 points and five assists against Los Angeles earlier this month - scored 23 while Ann Wauters added 21 and Sophia Young 20 on Thursday for San Antonio, which has lost three of four.

The Silver Stars, who entered Thursday's contest allowing 78 points per game on the season, have yielded an average of 91.0 while losing four of their last six.

"I think we have to improve our defense," said Hammon, who's averaging 15.1 points in 18 career games against Los Angeles.