Leslie Becomes a Big Headache for the Mercury

If Lisa Leslie felt insulted or rebuffed by not being selected as a starter for next week’s WNBA All-Star game, she didn’t let on before the Sparks’ game against Phoenix on Saturday.

In fact, she didn’t want to let on much of anything. A migraine had cost Leslie a night’s sleep Friday, just another in a series of injuries and aches that, so far, have taken some of the luster off of her 2005 season.

Once the game started, however, Leslie’s play spoke volumes.

The veteran 6-foot-5 center had 22 points, 11 rebounds and a career-high nine assists in leading the Sparks to an 86-63 victory over the Mercury in front of 8,832 in Staples Center. She was one assist short of her second career triple-double.

Chamique Holdsclaw had 19 points and Tamika Whitmore had 16 for the Sparks (9-6), who moved three games above .500 for the second time this season.

But Saturday was clearly Leslie’s night. She has been battling a groin injury but looked active for the 32 minutes she played.

“This is probably the first week I felt I had both legs underneath me,” Leslie said. “I’m still wrapping [the right leg]; I’m afraid to play without it. Now we’re at this point of am I healthy enough or am I not? I still have a pain level.”

Coach Henry Bibby gave Leslie a few garbage-time minutes to get the elusive 10th assist, but removed her for good with less than two minutes left. Besides her other hurts, Leslie took an accidental blow to the head, hitting Whitmore’s knee while battling for a second-half rebound.

“I would shoot myself if something would have happened to her trying to get [the last] assist,” Bibby said.

“I wasn’t that concerned about [a triple-double] and I don’t think she was concerned with that. It was about the win we had and getting her out and not causing any more injury to her.”

The last time Leslie did not start an All-Star game was 2001. She could still be selected as a reserve. She has been on the West team her previous eight seasons.

It clearly wasn’t Diana Taurasi’s night. The Mercury guard, who was chosen as a starter for the Western Conference -- and who had a season-high 28 points in her last game against Connecticut on June 25 -- scored only five points and made one of 12 shots.

Kamila Vodichkova had 16 points and Penny Taylor had 14 for Phoenix (3-11), which lost its fifth in a row.

The Sparks led, 46-36, at the half because Whitmore (12 points), Holdsclaw (11 points) and Lisa Leslie (11 points) were constantly getting free and making shots.

The Sparks removed all doubt about the outcome by opening the second half with a 14-1 run

Still waiting to return to the Sparks is Mwadi Mabika (knee), who is practicing daily with the team. But to bring her on board requires a roster move of sorts. Either another player would have to go on the injured list or someone would have to be waived.

“Mwadi will play in the first game after the All-Star break,” General Manager Penny Toler said. “She’s looking better in practice than she has previously.”