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Sparks-Shock Preview

Aug 14, 2010 - 4:11 AM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Los Angeles (11-19) at Tulsa (5-24), 8:00 p.m. EDT

As they scramble for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Sparks surely don't want to pass up Saturday night's chance for a victory.

The visiting Sparks look to finish a season sweep of the woeful Tulsa Shock, who return to the court less than 24 hours after their latest blowout loss.

Despite struggling through a difficult season - mostly without injured star Candace Parker - Los Angeles (11-19) is tied with Minnesota for fourth place in the West and very much alive for its 11th postseason berth in 12 years.

Only four games remain for the Sparks, who helped their cause in a big way Thursday with a 78-77 road win over the Lynx. Los Angeles erased a 17-point deficit and stole a victory when Tina Thompson buried a 17-footer at the buzzer.

"I stepped back and it was open so I just shot it," Thompson said. "I played terrible most of the game."

The Lynx struggled in the first quarter but outscored Minnesota in each of the final three periods to win for the third time in four road games. The Sparks lost 10 of their first 11 on the road.

"We came out really stagnant defensively and not boxing out and they were controlling and hitting in all areas," coach Jennifer Gillom said. "We knew that (Minnesota) has consistently been letting teams back in the game, so we knew we had a chance to get back into it."

DeLisha Milton-Jones again led the Sparks with 21 points. Milton-Jones is averaging 20.6 points and shooting 54.2 percent from the field in her last five games.

The veteran forward had a game-high 23 points in a 77-70 win over Tulsa on Aug. 6, Los Angeles' third victory in as many meetings with the lowly Shock.

Tulsa (5-25) has lost 22 of its last 24, including a 94-74 loss at San Antonio on Friday night that allowed the Silver Stars to move one game ahead of the Sparks.

In their first game since a 111-65 loss at Seattle last Saturday - the most lopsided margin in league history - the Shock again provided little resistance, getting outrebounded 42-25 and allowing San Antonio to shoot 52.1 percent.

"We didn't rebound well. That was the story of the game," Tulsa's Scholanda Robinson said. "I think they had 20 offensive rebounds, and we had 25 (total) for the game. You can't win like that."

In the team's first season since moving from Detroit, the Shock already have clinched the worst record in franchise history.