Sparks-Silver Stars Preview

By KATE HEDLIN
Posted Jun 27 2012 3:12PM

Candace Parker has struggled in two games since returning from a knee injury. While she and the Los Angeles Sparks may be dealing with some fatigue, that certainly isn't the case for their next opponent.

In the third meeting between these teams in less than two weeks, the visiting Sparks will try to avoid a fifth straight loss to the San Antonio Silver Stars on Thursday.

San Antonio and Los Angeles are becoming quite familiar with one another, with the Silver Stars beating the Sparks 98-85 on June 16 and 91-71 on Sunday.

The two losses are part of a busy stretch for Los Angeles (10-5), which is playing for the eighth time in 14 days Thursday. The schedule may be taking its toll, with the team losing the last two games by double digits.

The Sparks followed their fourth consecutive defeat to the Silver Stars with a 91-75 loss at Tulsa on Tuesday. Before those two defeats, the Sparks had won three straight while averaging 96.3 points.

Parker missed the final game of that win streak with a sore knee and has not played well offensively since returning. Averaging 18.2 points, Parker scored only five of her 15 points in the second half Sunday. The former MVP shot 6 of 17 in that game and was 1 of 6 on Tuesday for a season-low two points.

She did not attempt a shot in the second half against the Shock, and the Sparks couldn't come back after falling behind 48-25 at the break.

"I thought we had the right mindset to make a run, but Tulsa responded and hit some big shots," coach Carol Ross said.

Ross' team will get some relief from this busy stretch with a week off after Thursday's game.

San Antonio (5-5) is on the opposite end. It has played the fewest games in the WNBA, playing just once between its two victories over the Sparks.

The light schedule has likely helped the Silver Stars, who lost four of their first six games while contending with a young lineup besides Becky Hammon and Sophia Young.

"I think we're a team that is coming together in different ways," coach Dan Hughes said. "We're a team that relies on our bench, so I think it takes us longer to get into a groove."

Besides winning three of four overall, San Antonio is 3-0 at home this month.

Young has played well in the two victories over Los Angeles, averaging 22.0 points and shooting 18 of 28.

Young scores 23 to lead Silver Stars past Sparks

Posted Jun 28 2012 5:06PM

SAN ANTONIO (AP) Sophia Young scored 23 points to lead the San Antonio Silver Stars to a 94-80 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday.

Becky Hammon had 17 points, Shameka Christon added 14, Danielle Adams 14 and Jia Perkins 12 as San Antonio (6-5) beat Los Angeles for the third time in three meetings this season.

``On paper, we probably don't look like a good matchup for them,'' Hammon said. ``And I think that's generally what people think. But you got to go out there and play the game. I think we have a rally focused approach with them.''

Candace Parker scored 25 points on 10-for-17 shooting to lead the Sparks (10-6), who have lost three straight. Alana Beard and DeLisha Milton-Jones added 14 points each.

Four days after handing Los Angeles its first home loss of the season in a 91-71 rout, San Antonio got off to another fast start against its Western Conference rival.

The Sparks missed seven of their first eight shots, including three on their second possession of the game.

``We have to do things differently,'' Parker said of the slow start. ``Whether we have to do something before the game or warm up differently or something like that.''

The Silver Stars took advantage, taking a 14-4 lead on Young's two free throws about midway through the first quarter.

They led 57-37 at halftime with their highest-scoring first half of the season and finished four points short of their franchise record for a game.

``It was a loud building,'' San Antonio coach Dan Hughes said. ``There hasn't been too many times where my players couldn't hear me in a timeout. That's a great problem to have.''

San Antonio built its double-digit lead while Hammon struggled with her shots. She didn't make her first basket until there was less than 5 minutes left in the first half. After missing her first five field goals, Hammon made three consecutive 3-pointers to close the half.

``As far as anyone struggling early on, it does not matter because we have so many weapons that we can go to,'' Christon said. ``And the other person, whoever is struggling, they'll come along. The team does a great job of picking that person up and bringing them along.''

Christon made her first three shots for the third straight game and her 3 gave the Silver Stars a 43-26 lead with 3:47 to go in the first half.

The game got heated in the second half as the Silver Stars became more physical in respond to the Sparks' defensive intensity. Los Angeles coach Carol Ross was assessed a technical foul after arguing a foul should have been called on a jump ball for Parker.

Christon had another 3 to start a 9-0 run to open the second half as San Antonio increased its lead to 66-37 with 7:16 to go in the third quarter.

Beard had five points and Parker four in Los Angeles' 10-0 spurt that cut the deficit to 68-49 nearly 5 minutes later. However the Sparks got no closer than 14 points the rest of the way.

San Antonio's bench was largely responsible for maintaining the advantage, outscoring Los Angeles' reserves 33-17.

``I think our bench is fantastic,'' Young said. ``Jia Perkins, especially. She definitely gives us a spark, she's energetic and a great teammate. She definitely brings a lot of offense and Danielle Adams can shoot the 3 so it spreads us out a little bit.''

• Sparks: --
• Silver Stars: --

• Sparks: Ross
• Silver Stars: --

• Lead Changes: 0
• Times Tied: 1

• Arena: AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
• Officials: #9 Denise Brooks, #21 Byron Jarrett, #38 Lamont Simpson
• Attendance: 15184
• Duration: 1:51