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Storm-Sparks Preview

Aug 27, 2010 - 6:33 PM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Seattle (28-6) at Los Angeles (13-21), 3:00 p.m. EDT

The Seattle Storm watched as the Los Angeles Sparks clinched playoff series wins at Key Arena in 2008 and 2009.

The Storm are in position to get a measure of revenge Saturday when they try to eliminate the Sparks in Game 2 of their Western Conference semifinal series at Staples Center.

Since winning the WNBA title in 2004, Seattle has been ousted in the first round of the playoffs each of the last five seasons, including three times by Los Angeles. The Sparks advanced to the conference finals in 2008 and 2009 after ousting the Storm in Seattle.

However, the Storm are within a win of moving on after a 79-66 victory in Game 1 on Wednesday. Swin Cash scored 20 points and Lauren Jackson added 17, continuing the team's success after finishing with the league's best regular-season record at 28-6

All six losses came on the road, but Cash remained focused.

"I don't think we're peaking right now, but we're in the best possible place where we need to be," she said. "To have players come off the bench and really contribute. ... and as long as our players keep getting a rhythm and getting better and better game by game, I like our chances."

Cash, who is averaging 14.8 points in six games against the Sparks this season, is looking for another solid postseason. Although the Storm were eliminated in three games by Los Angeles last year, she averaged 21.0 points.

Besides finding a way to contain Cash, Los Angeles will also need a much better offensive effort - especially from veteran DeLisha Milton-Jones - to extend its season. The 66 points were the Sparks' fewest since a 76-57 loss to Indiana on July 22, and came after they averaged 87.3 points while splitting the final four regular-season games.

Milton-Jones was frustrated after being held to eight points on 4-of-10 shooting. She came in after averaging 15.4 points during the regular season while shooting 47.0 percent, and the 12-year veteran chose not to go through the postgame handshakes.

"It was intentional because I was rather upset for several reasons and I just decided to go in and not bring that negative energy to anyone out there," she said.

Tina Thompson finished with 16 points, but she shot 5 of 15 and 0 for 3 from 3-point range. She had been 11 of 22 from beyond the arc the previous three games.

"We were definitely a little excited about coming in here," Thompson said. "We were very high energy - maybe too much and a little overwhelming. It took us a little while to settle in during the first quarter and going into the second."

The Sparks haven't lost in the first round of the playoffs since 2005. Game 3, if necessary, would be Tuesday at Seattle.