• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Sparks-Shock Preview

Jul 13, 2010 - 5:28 PM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Los Angeles (4-13) at Tulsa (3-14), 7:00 p.m. EDT

As they begin the second half of the season, the top priority for the Tulsa Shock is ending one of the longest losing streaks in franchise history.

They'll have perhaps their best chance to do that in their return from the All-Star break Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Sparks.

In a matchup of the league's two worst clubs, Tulsa will try to avoid a 12th consecutive defeat when it welcomes a Sparks team that's already tied their longest road losing streak.

With three championships, the Shock have been one of the most successful franchises in WNBA history but little has gone right in their first season after relocating from Detroit.

A loss Tuesday would leave Tulsa (3-14) one shy of matching a franchise-worst 13 in a row in 2002, and also give it one of the league's longest slides.

Atlanta started 0-17 during its inaugural 2008 season, and Chicago dropped 13 straight as an expansion team in 2006.

The cause for much of the Shock's struggles this year has been a defense that's giving up the second-most points per game (89.2) and has yielded an average of 91.7 during their losing streak.

Tulsa allowed an opponent to reach the century mark for the second time in three contests with Thursday's 100-72 loss at Indiana. The Shock gave up at least 21 points in each of the first three quarters, including 35 in the second to tie a franchise mark for one period.

"We were looking for a win," center Chante Black said. "Unfortunately, we couldn't manage a stop."

Los Angeles is also looking for a win - especially away from home, where it's 0-7 this season to match the team's longest road skid set from June 14-July 27, 1998.

Losers in six of seven overall, Los Angeles (4-13) is also next-to-last in scoring with 76.1 points per game, and has averaged 71.6 since losing Candace Parker for the season to a dislocated left shoulder June 13.

The Sparks had one of their best scoring performances of 2010 last Tuesday against defending WNBA champion Phoenix. However, Los Angeles was outscored 30-10 in the first quarter, and lost 98-89 to wrap up a 1-3 homestand.

"We just didn't come out with the sense of urgency that we should have," coach Jennifer Gillom said. "If we're not scoring, that doesn't mean we don't play defense. Our defense needs to be more aggressive."

Gillom's club will visit Chicago and San Antonio before returning home to face Tulsa on July 20.

The Sparks and Shock haven't played since splitting a home-and-home series to open last season.