Storm-Sparks Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN
Posted Aug 29 2011 2:20PM

The defending champion Seattle Storm, undefeated since Lauren Jackson returned from injury, find themselves on the verge of an eighth consecutive postseason appearance.

The Los Angeles Sparks aren't in nearly as good a position as they continue to fight for their playoff lives.

The Storm look to extend their mastery of the Sparks as the teams conclude a home-and-home set Tuesday night at Staples Center.

Jackson scored 14 points and Sue Bird made two free throws with 1.6 seconds remaining as Seattle (17-12) defeated Los Angeles 65-63 on Sunday.

"Those free throws for any player at the end of the game can be tough. It's just you and the basket," Bird said. " ... I'll take a win any way I can get it."

Seattle has been finding ways lately, winning a season-best four straight since Jackson returned from a torn hip labrum. The Storm need one victory to secure a postseason berth.

They have gone 9-1 in the last 10 meetings with Los Angeles, including a two-game sweep during the conference semifinals last season. However, despite leading the season series 2-1, Seattle recorded its lowest point total of the year during its most recent visit to Los Angeles, falling 74-50 on June 19.

That result, along with the chance to clinch a playoff berth amid a difficult season, means the Storm probably won't be taking the Sparks lightly.

"There's tons of things we can do better," guard Tanisha Wright said. "Everyone is playing for their playoff lives. They have too many good players - you can't afford to relax."

While there was surely a feeling of optimism in Seattle's locker room following the victory Sunday, Los Angeles coach Joe Bryant wasn't pleased.

"I'm not going to say what I think because I don't want to get fined," Bryant said. "I thought we played great defense. It's just sad that it had to end that way because usually, you let the players make the decisions in games. So that was probably the saddest part about it."

The Sparks' inability to pick up ground on fourth-place San Antonio was likely also upsetting. The Sparks are 1 1/2 games behind the Silver Stars for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

After scoring a season-low seven points during a 77-75 loss to Tulsa on Friday, Candace Parker bounced back with 19 points and a season-best 14 rebounds. Guard Ticha Penicheiro added 15 points and 10 boards.

Following this contest, the Sparks (12-17) play at Phoenix on Saturday before a highly anticipated home matchup with San Antonio next Tuesday.

Seattle has lost three straight on the road.

Sparks beat Storm behind Parker's 27

Posted Aug 31 2011 2:03AM

LOS ANGELES (AP) Candace Parker is doing her best to keep the Los Angeles Sparks in the thick of the postseason race.

Parker scored a season-high 27 points and the Sparks beat Seattle 68-62 on Tuesday night, denying the Storm a chance to clinch a playoff berth.

The win helped the Sparks (13-17) remain 1 1/2 games behind San Antonio for the final playoff spot in the West with less than two weeks left in the regular season.

``If we take care of business,'' Parker said, ``it'll be hard for us not to make it.''

Parker, playing in her seventh game since missing 15 with a knee injury, scored 10 of her team's 17 points in the fourth quarter, including hitting three free throws in the final 30 seconds to seal it.

``She is our go-to person. That's what we expect from her,'' said Sparks forward Tina Thompson, who had 12 points. ``We are going to go to her so she can make those plays.''

Sue Bird had 15 points for the Storm (17-13), who snapped a four-game winning streak and remained on the cusp of the postseason.

Seattle is looking to extend its playoff run to eight consecutive years , which would match Los Angeles (1999-2006) for the league's longest streak.

The defending WNBA champions had surged up the standings with their recent run, but fell a half-game behind second-place Phoenix in the race to host a first-round series. The Storm and Mercury play each other Sept. 9 in a game that figures to have seeding implications on the line.

``We've still got four games left,'' Bird said. ``We have a shot at second place, which would give us home-court advantage.''

Bird's free throws with 1.6 seconds to go gave the Storm a 65-63 win over the Sparks on Sunday. Seattle was unable to complete the home-and-home sweep, shooting just 37 percent in the rematch.

After the Sparks took a six-point lead into the fourth quarter, Ebony Hoffman's jumper extended it to 65-57 with 2:12 remaining. Bird hit a 3-pointer, but the Storm failed to make it a one-possession game when Lauren Jackson missed a 3-pointer and Swin Cash came up empty on a jumper.

Parker was intentionally fouled and hit one of two free throws for a 66-60 lead with 23.9 seconds to go. Following a layup by Le'coe Willingham, Parker drew another foul and added two more free throws.

``To play as hard as we did and to have it come down to the final seconds is tough,'' said Hoffman, who had 11 points. ``Tonight, we just came out with a fire.''

Seattle lost its fourth straight on the road despite winning the rebounding battle, 36-21 - including 15 of the offensive end. Turnovers and poor shooting, however, did them in.

Despite having as many turnovers in the first quarter (8) as they did the entire game on Sunday, the Storm trailed by two points after the first quarter. But Seattle went cold offensively and was held scoreless for nearly 3 minutes to open the second.

After Jackson was called for a technical foul midway through the second quarter for arguing a non-call, Parker's 3-pointer gave the Sparks their largest lead, 30-20. The Storm made just 3 of 12 shots in the quarter and trailed 32-24 at halftime.

The Sparks travel to Phoenix on Saturday before finishing the season with three home games, one against San Antonio.

``If we want to make a push to be in the playoffs,'' Thompson said, ``we have to win these games.''

• Storm: --
• Sparks: --

• Storm: Jackson
• Sparks: --

• Lead Changes: 3
• Times Tied: 2

• Arena: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
• Officials: #4 Sue Blauch, #13 Cameron Inouye, #53 Jeff Smith
• Attendance: 9023
• Duration: 1:55