Sky-Sparks Preview

By ALAN FERGUSON
Posted Sep 10 2011 2:31AM

The Chicago Sky once again won't be heading to the postseason, but they still have a chance to tie a franchise record. Sylvia Fowles is also looking to make history for the Sky.

Fowles will seek to make her case to become the franchise's first league MVP while helping her team move a step closer to tying its all-time wins mark Saturday night against the Los Angeles Sparks.

Chicago (14-18) hasn't reached the playoffs in any of its six seasons, and was eliminated from contention last weekend. The Sky, though, would match the club record for victories if they can beat the Sparks (14-19) and win Sunday's finale in Seattle.

Fowles also will be trying to bolster her case for MVP. The fourth-year center is the league's third-leading scorer (19.8 points per game) and second-best rebounder (10.1 per contest).

She had 15 of her 17 points in the first half Thursday in Minnesota and made 7 of 13 shots, but her teammates were a combined 18 of 56 (32.1 percent) during a 78-69 loss. Erin Thorn was the only other Sky player in double figures with 17 points during her team's third straight defeat.

The Sky hope for a better performance against Los Angeles, which will miss the postseason for the first time since drafting Candace Parker with the top pick - just ahead of Fowles - in 2008.

The Sparks enter this game after winning for the second time in six contests, 84-73 over league-worst Tulsa on Friday. Rookie Jantel Lavender had 19 points and a season-high 12 rebounds while starting in place of Parker, who sat out after her right knee flared up.

Parker will be a game-time decision for the season finale, coach Joe Bryant said. The All-Star forward, who missed 15 games earlier this year after tearing her meniscus, is averaging a team-best 18.5 points and 8.6 rebounds.

"We're not in the playoffs, so it's really caring more about the player," Bryant said. "It's important for her to get a full recovery."

Lavender had 13 points and six rebounds during an 88-84 victory in Chicago on July 30 while Parker was recovering from knee surgery. She was one of five players in double figures in that game, led by DeLisha Milton-Jones' 19 points, but the Sparks nearly blew a 20-point lead.

Chicago is seeking its first win at Staples Center since July 1, 2007 after three consecutive defeats there. Milton-Jones had 22 points to lead the Sparks during last year's 82-77 home victory Aug. 4, when Fowles missed 12 of 17 shots.

Milton-Jones leads Sparks to 74-67 win over Sky

Posted Sep 11 2011 1:48AM

LOS ANGELES (AP) DeLisha Milton-Jones scored 15 points to lead the short-handed Los Angeles Sparks to a 74-67 victory over the Chicago Sky on Saturday night.

Kristi Toliver had eight of her 11 points in the first half for the Sparks (15-19), who played without leading scorer and rebounder Candace Parker for the second straight night and closed the season with two straight wins.

``You want to leave the season with a good taste in your mouth,'' Sparks coach Joe Bryant said. ``We played well the past two games. We played very good defense. I'm really happy about it.''

Los Angeles had 25 assists on 29 field goals.

Sylvia Fowles had 18 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Sky (14-19), Dominique Canty scored 16 and Erin Thorn had 12. Fowles, who shot 6 for 12 from the field did not score in the fourth quarter.

Chicago concludes its season on Sunday against Seattle, and Sky coach Pokey Chatman was blunt about her outlook.

``After a loss, it's grim,``Chatman said. ``I'm an honest coach. Seattle has a veteran team and they have playoff spot locked up. You play to maintain chemistry.''

Natasha Lacy hit a free throw with 1:01 left in the third to give the Sparks a 52-51 lead, and they didn't trail again. Milton-Jones made a 3-pointer with 5:39 remaining to extend Los Angeles' lead to 65-55 and the Sparks finished 6 for 12 from beyond the arc.

Lacy, who finished with eight points, had seven in the fourth.

Parker, who missed 15 games earlier this season, sat out again after aggravating a right knee injury earlier in the week.

``When you look back on it, we probably had moments where we should have seized a lot of golden opportunities in front of us to write our own destiny,'' Milton-Jones said. ``The cards just weren't in our favor. I think next year, whether we're here with the Sparks, we all know you have to seize those opportunities when they come.''

The Sparks took a 34-33 lead into halftime after a 10-2 run in the second quarter capped by Jenna O'Hea's open layup off a steal by Lacy.

Chicago opened a 17-8 lead before the Sparks came back. Toliver scored eight of her team's 15 points in the first quarter, including a jumper during a 7-0 run that pulled the Sparks to 17-15.

Fowles passed Candice Dupree to become the Chicago's all-time leading rebounder. Rookie point guard Courtney Vandersloot set the Sky's single-season assists record with 124.

• Sky: --
• Sparks: --

• Sky: --
• Sparks: --

• Lead Changes: 3
• Times Tied: 7

• Arena: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
• Officials: #7 Clarke Stevens, #53 Jeff Smith, #27 Penny Davis
• Attendance: 13501
• Duration: 1:53