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Sparks-Storm Preview

Sep 17, 2009 - 8:14 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Los Angeles (18-16) at Seattle (20-14), 10:00 p.m. EDT

The Los Angeles Sparks are one step closer to turning another playoff matchup with the Seattle Storm into an appearance in the Western Conference finals. They can do it even more quickly this time.

The Sparks try for a sweep of the best-of-three semifinal series when they visit the short-handed Storm on Friday night.

Los Angeles eliminated Seattle from the playoffs twice in the last three years, taking each series in three games before falling in the West finals.

The third-seeded Sparks are in position to eliminate the second-seeded Storm again after winning 70-63 at home in Game 1 on Wednesday.

"I feel really good about going to Seattle. We're definitely going to have to play on top of our game but it's doable," said forward Candace Parker, who had 13 points and 10 rebounds. "The game is going to be a lot more physical up in Seattle."

Los Angeles clinched last year's series at KeyArena, as Parker scored 20 points and Lisa Leslie added 15 in a 71-64 victory.

Leslie also keyed Wednesday's win, scoring 14 points and grabbing 10 boards in what might have been the final home game of her storied career. She is retiring at season's end.

"It's like, 'Don't have any regrets, don't leave the court feeling like you could've done better," said Leslie, the last original member of the Sparks from 1997.

Sparks coach Michael Cooper is also leaving after the playoffs to coach the women's team at Southern California.

Los Angeles dropped its two visits to Seattle this season. The Sparks fell 98-87 in the most recent one July 22 despite 22 points from Tina Thompson, who picked up the slack with Leslie out due to a severe knee sprain.

Thompson had 16 points Wednesday after averaging 13.0 during the regular season.

The Storm are looking to avoid their fifth straight first-round exit since winning the WNBA title in 2004. They're again expected to be without star forward Lauren Jackson, sidelined by a stress fracture in her lower back.

Jackson has missed seven consecutive games after finishing the season fourth in the WNBA with 19.2 points per game. She averaged a team-leading 7.0 rebounds.

Despite Jackson's likely absence, Leslie is wary of the Storm.

"This team is a little more dangerous without Lauren because with her you know what offensive schemes are going to be," Leslie said.

Sue Bird will play through a sore neck for a second consecutive game after scoring four points on 1-for-9 shooting Wednesday. The guard missed the final three regular season games with the injury.

"My neck feels OK," Bird said. "I was able to get some rest and recover. It is what it is; you've got to play through it."

Storm forward Swin Cash had a strong performance in Game 1, scoring 24 points after missing two games because of her grandmother's death.