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Sparks-Fever Preview

Jul 21, 2010 - 8:46 PM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Los Angeles (6-15) at Indiana (13-7), 7:00 p.m. EDT

Facing a difficult stretch of games against their top competition in the Eastern Conference, the Indiana Fever first must take care of business against one of the worst teams in the West.

The Los Angeles Sparks have sputtered all season on the road, a trend that doesn't bode well as they begin a four-game trip in Indianapolis on Thursday night.

The Fever (13-7) are tied with Washington atop a crowded group of contenders in the East, and they'll try to avoid looking ahead to two matchups with the Mystics - including one Saturday - and two with third-place Atlanta among their next seven games.

"We can't really focus on being first, second, third or fourth," forward Tamika Catchings said. "Every single game you go out you really have to focus on that game."

Catchings has certainly been focused lately, averaging 22.8 points and 9.0 rebounds in her last four games. The veteran was three assists shy of a triple-double Sunday at New York, scoring nine of her 22 points in overtime to boost Indiana to an 84-81 win.

"I'm proud of the way we held together," guard Katie Douglas said. "At the beginning of the season, we wouldn't be able to do that. Things are clicking, people are understanding where to be at what spots, and we're getting stops when we need to get stops."

Indiana has been especially tough at Conseco Fieldhouse with an 8-2 record, including 3-0 and a 19.0-point average margin of victory against West opponents.

The Sparks (6-15) are a WNBA-worst 1-9 on the road, and they've lost their last three visits to Indiana, including a 73-61 defeat June 12, 2009. They won't play another home game until Aug. 4, with stops at Connecticut, Minnesota and New York before then.

Los Angeles needed overtime to post an 86-83 home victory over last-place Tulsa on Tuesday. Ticha Penicheiro's career-high 13th assist set up Noelle Quinn's tiebreaking layup in the final minute of overtime, while DeLisha Milton-Jones' season-high 23 points led the Sparks.

"I thought our veterans showed up and really helped us," coach Jennifer Gillom said. "This team is still hungry to get into the playoffs, and we're doing everything that we can to try to get there."

Despite struggling without 2008 league MVP Candace Parker - out for the season with a shoulder injury - Los Angeles is just 1 1/2 games out of a postseason spot in the weaker West.