Sparks-Storm Preview

By MATT BEARDMORE
Posted Aug 17 2012 2:10PM

The Los Angeles Sparks have rebounded from a rough stretch with a five-game winning streak.

The Seattle Storm are also back on track following a difficult start.

Hoping the Olympic hiatus hasn't slowed its momentum, Los Angeles heads to Seattle on Saturday night seeking its longest win streak in nearly three years and a season sweep of the Storm.

Since dropping three in a row to end June, the Sparks (15-6) have tied a season high with five straight wins to challenge Minnesota and San Antonio for the top spot in the Western Conference. Los Angeles, which defeated Indiana 77-74 on July 12 in its final game before the break, last won six straight Aug. 15-25, 2009.

If the Storm (10-10) are going to snap the Sparks' current run, they'll likely need to slow down the frontcourt duo of Candace Parker and rookie forward Nneka Ogwumike. Parker, who helped the United States win gold in London, is averaging 20.0 points and 12.0 rebounds during the winning streak.

"When she's aggressive she is going to get anything she wants," U.S. teammate and Minnesota Lynx forward Maya Moore said after Parker had game highs of 21 points and 11 boards in the 86-50 gold-medal victory over France last Saturday.

Ogwumike, the No. 1 overall pick, is already showing signs she can take over a game. She has four double-doubles during the win streak and is coming off a 22-point, 20-rebound performance which included a league record-tying 12 offensive boards.

Los Angeles leads the league with 37.6 rebounds per game.

That does not bode well for a Storm team still missing three-time league MVP Lauren Jackson, who is expected to return next week after helping Australia win a bronze medal in London.

Seattle, though, should have Tina Thompson available after she finished with eight points and four rebounds in Thursday's 72-58 victory over Phoenix. It was the former Sparks forward's first game since suffering left ankle and knee sprains in an 83-59 loss at Los Angeles on July 7 when Ogwumike rolled on her leg.

The Sparks have won all four meetings with the Storm this season, including a 72-66 season-opening victory at Seattle as they rallied from a 21-point second-half deficit. Kristi Toliver had 25 points in that contest and has averaged 22.3 in the season series, half a point above her average during the Sparks' current win streak.

The Storm have won nine of 12 to move into fourth in the West following a 1-7 start to the season.

"When we lost those games, we were upset - we didn't expect to lose that many games," forward Camille Little said. "But we didn't focus on what anyone else was thinking. We were more worried about how we felt and how we could play."

Storm point guard Sue Bird, who won her third gold medal in London, should be ready to go after the stomach flu limited her to 10 minutes Thursday.

Toliver, Beard lead Sparks past short-handed Storm

Posted Aug 19 2012 1:38AM

SEATTLE (AP) Kristi Toliver scored 22 points and Alana Beard added 18 to help the Los Angeles Sparks beat the short-handed Seattle Storm 82-71 Saturday night for their sixth consecutive win.

The Sparks started slowly in their first game since the monthlong Olympic break but picked up the pace in the second half.

``I think it was natural that we would have at least a little bit of rust in the first half,'' Toliver said. ``We hadn't played in a long time. I think we responded well and hopefully we can take a little bit of this momentum against Indiana on Tuesday.''

Rookie Nneka Ogwumike had 17 points and 10 rebounds for Los Angeles (16-6), which swept the season series 5-0. Candace Parker added 11 points and 12 rebounds as the Sparks outrebounded the Storm 36-24.

``We're the best rebounding team in the league offensively and we should rebound the ball well,'' Los Angeles coach Carol Ross said. ``We should do it every time we step on the floor, but we weren't doing it that well in the first half because rebounding requires effort.''

Ross noticed a difference in her team's play after halftime.

``I thought we played the second half with passion and effort,'' Ross said. ``Effort will beat talent any day and in the first half, it was beating our talent.''

Tanisha Wright had 21 points and rookie reserve Shekinna Stricklen added 16 to lead Seattle (10-11), which remained in fourth place in the Western Conference. The Storm were without point guard Sue Bird (stomach flu) and Ann Wauters (strained Achilles). Also, three-time MVP Lauren Jackson hasn't joined the team yet after playing for Australia at the London Olympics.

Beard scored eight points in the third quarter to help the Sparks break open the game after leading 40-38 at halftime.

Parker added seven points and Milton-Jones six to help the Sparks to a 27-17 third-quarter run after a Seattle led by as many as eight in the second quarter.

``In the second half we didn't come out with the aggression that we needed to come out with,'' Wright said. ``They jumped up on us, and from there it was a battle. We fought we just didn't have enough gas in the tank.''

Toliver scored 16 to help the Sparks to a two-point halftime lead. Toliver had 12, including three 3s, in the second quarter to help erase an eight-point deficit.

``Toliver has offensive gifts and she used them and hit some big shots when we needed them,'' Ross said.

Wright figured she should have done a better job defending Toliver.

``Ididn't do a good job on her tonight,'' Wright said. ``I let her get too comfortable. I didn't really do a good job of forcing her to do some things that she doesn't like to do. I just think overall I didn't do a good job of handling her.''

Bird, averaging 12.7 points and 5.7 assists per game, remained at home. She left in the second quarter of Thursday's 72-58 win against Phoenix with the stomach flu.

Jackson is expected to join the Storm for Tuesday's game against Minnesota.

• Sparks: --
• Storm: --

• Sparks: --
• Storm: --

• Lead Changes: 4
• Times Tied: 2

• Arena: Key Arena, Seattle, WA
• Officials: #42 Roy Gulbeyan, #45 Tom Mauer, #28 Angelica Suffren
• Attendance: 9127
• Duration: 2:00