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Mercury-Sparks Preview

Jun 7, 2010 - 7:09 PM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Phoenix (3-4) at Los Angeles (1-6), 10:30 p.m. EDT

After advancing to the Western Conference finals last season, the Los Angeles Sparks have won just once this year.

The defending champion Phoenix Mercury would have the amount if not for a couple of thrilling one-point victories over the Sparks.

Two of the league's biggest disappointments meet for the second time in four days as the Mercury and Sparks tip off Tuesday night at Staples Center.

Phoenix (3-4) and Los Angeles (1-6) were expected to make a run for the championship this season after meeting in the West finals last fall, but neither has looked like a contender. The Mercury's high-powered offense has been out of sync and the Sparks are struggling on defense.

Still, they have displayed a flair for the dramatic in two meetings so far.

On Friday in Phoenix, Tangela Smith scored on a layup with 15.8 seconds left and the Mercury held off two last-second chances by the Sparks for a 90-89 victory. Candace Parker, who finished with 26 points and 12 rebounds, missed a tip after DeLisha Milton-Jones missed a driving layup in the final seconds.

The season opener on May 15 was just as intense, as Phoenix's Penny Taylor's made two free throws with 1.5 seconds remaining to lift the Mercury to a 78-77 home victory.

Aside from those triumphs, little has gone right for Phoenix.

The Mercury are second-worst in the league with 41.4 percent shooting. In Sunday's 97-74 loss in Seattle, Phoenix finished with season lows in scoring, field goal percentage (36.4), and was outrebounded 53-40.

"I don't think everybody is on the same page," forward Candice Dupree said. "We've got to come out and work a lot harder on defense. In order for us to get out and run, you have to get stops and get the rebounds."

Diana Taurasi, who averages a team-best 20.6 points, finished with a season-low 11 on 3 of 11 shooting. Last season's MVP is averaging 17.0 points on 29.2 percent shooting against the Sparks this season.

Los Angeles is also coming off a tough loss to the Storm, falling 79-75 on Saturday at the Home Depot Center Tennis Stadium in the WNBA's second outdoor game.

Parker had 24 points and eight rebounds, but the Sparks' defense again struggled, as the team fell behind by as many as 17 points in the first quarter. Los Angeles is allowing an average of 90.0 points during a three-game losing streak.

"They're mentally tough, they're fighting through our problems right now," Los Angeles coach Jennifer Gillom said.

Although Los Angeles is scuffling, the Sparks also got off to a rough start last season, losing five of their first seven before rebounding to make the playoffs.