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Sky-Sparks Preview

Aug 3, 2010 - 7:14 PM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Chicago (12-15) at Los Angeles (8-17), 10:30 p.m. EDT

It's been a disappointing season for the Los Angeles Sparks, but they're still in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race.

This next week could go a long way in determining if they stay there.

Coming off a difficult road stretch, the Sparks hope to turn things around with a four-game homestand beginning Wednesday night against the Chicago Sky.

With an 88-79 defeat to New York on Friday, Los Angeles (8-17) surpassed last season's loss total with nine games to play. Tina Thompson scored 18 points and Marie Ferdinand-Harris added 17 for the Sparks, who were outscored 26-16 while shooting 5 of 14 from the floor in the fourth quarter.

"We made some crucial mistakes that caused us to lose this game," coach Jennifer Gillom said.

Although the Sparks - who lost Candace Parker to a season-ending shoulder injury in June - are underachieving, they're still in the mix for fourth place in the West with Minnesota. Los Angeles has two games left against the Lynx, as well as league-worst Tulsa.

The Sparks are also hoping to take advantage of playing six of their remaining games at Staples Center.

If Los Angeles struggles during this homestand, it could be difficult for the Sparks to stay in the playoff race, considering they're 3-11 on the road.

Los Angeles concluded a portion of the schedule featuring seven of eight games on the road Friday - a stretch that included an 80-68 loss in Chicago on July 16. DeLisha Milton-Jones had a game-high 21 points and the Sparks only turned the ball over four times, but the Sky grabbed 16 more rebounds and owned a 13-3 advantage on the offensive end.

Chicago (12-15) has never swept a season series from the Sparks and arrives in Los Angeles after Sunday's 97-96 loss in Phoenix.

Jia Perkins hit a 16-footer with 5.6 seconds left to give the Sky a one-point lead, but the Mercury's Diana Taurasi made two free throws with 3.7 remaining. Taurasi then knocked the ensuing inbounds pass wide to send Chicago to its third straight defeat and further back of New York and Connecticut for the East's final playoff spot.

Sylvia Fowles had a career-high 35 points, scoring a franchise-record 18 in the first quarter. She had 10 points and 10 rebounds against the Sparks last month.