Sparks tonight: vs. Phoenix

SPARKS TONIGHT

VS. PHOENIX

When: 7:30.

Where: Staples Center.

On the air: NBA TV, TWC 101.

Records: Sparks 22-10, Mercury 7-24.

Record vs. Mercury: 4-0.

Update: The Sparks, who are on a two-game winning streak, will play host to Phoenix in their penultimate game of the regular season. The Sparks are in second place in the Western Conference, four games behind first-place Minnesota and 21/2 games ahead of third-place San Antonio. If they beat the Mercury or if San Antonio loses its game Tuesday against New York, the Sparks will clinch second place, which will give them home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Sparks will finish their season Thursday against Minnesota before making their first playoff appearance since 2010. The Mercury, who has been eliminated from playoff contention, has lost four games in a row and is in last place in the Western Conference.

--Melissa Rohlin