The Detroit Shock are fresh off their first home loss of the season. A matchup with the Los Angeles Sparks would seem to give them an excellent opportunity to get back on track.

The Shock look to saddle the Sparks with their sixth straight road loss, and beat them at the Palace for the fourth straight time when they conclude their season series on Tuesday night.

Detroit (16-8) leads the Eastern Conference, thanks largely to its dominant play at home. But the Shock suffered their first loss of the season at the Palace on Sunday, 88-85 against Sacramento.

It was Detroit�s first home loss since Game 5 of last season�s WNBA finals against Phoenix. The Shock won their first 10 games at the Palace this season, allowing less than 70 points in six of those contests.

Detroit remains four home wins away from matching the highest total in franchise history, set last season when it went 14-3. The Shock have six games left at the Palace, beginning with this matchup.

Los Angeles (13-10) has lost five straight on the road, including a 75-72 overtime loss to Houston on Saturday. The Sparks haven�t won away from Staples Center since a 74-66 victory over Sacramento on June 14.

And it's been more than four years have passed since Los Angeles last won at Detroit. The Sparks have lost three straight road games versus the Shock after a 63-60 victory on May 29, 2004.

Los Angeles� woes in recent weeks extend past its road play. The Sparks have lost seven of 10 overall since June 24.

Los Angeles, however, won its first game this season against Detroit, 80-73 on June 11. Lisa Leslie had 17 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Sparks.

Leslie, who had 16 points against the Comets, is second on the team with 15.7 points and 9.2 rebounds per game.

Katie Smith had 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists to lead the Shock in their last matchup with the Sparks. The veteran forward tops Detroit with 15.1 points a contest, but was held to 13 on 4-of-15 shooting against Sacramento.

Detroit will play two of its next three at home before the WNBA breaks for the Olympics.