SPARKS TONIGHT

Opponent--Phoenix Mercury.

Site--America West Arena, Phoenix.

Time--6.

Records--Sparks 14-13, Mercury 15-12.

Update--It’s fitting that it has come to this, one game to decide a season, just as many in the Sparks’ organization have predicted. With four consecutive victories and nine in their last 12 games, the Sparks enter the regular-season finale above .500 for the first time. Phoenix, its midseason slump (six straight losses at one point) only a distant memory, also is approaching the finish line in high gear. Cheryl Miller’s team has won five of six, the only loss a 75-66 defeat against the Sparks on Monday at the Forum. That result--and Spark assistant Orlando Woolridge’s celebratory high-fiving--touched off a profanity-laden Miller tirade. The primary task for Los Angeles tonight is to block out 6-foot-3 Mercury center Jennifer Gillom, the leading scorer four times in the last six games and the leading rebounder three times. It also will be incumbent on the Sparks to try to block out the noise generated by an expected capacity crowd of 19,000. Spark Coach Julie Rousseau wants her team rested and relaxed for the showdown and canceled a two-hour Saturday practice upon arrival in Phoenix. The Mercury’s the focus should be on 6-5 Lisa Leslie, whose late-season defensive intensity and rebounding have ignited Los Angeles’ finishing sprint. In the last six games, she has had five games with 12 or more rebounds. Then there’s the league’s most accurate shooter (61.4% from the field), 6-8 Haixia Zheng, who had a 10-for-11 performance in the Sparks’ victory against Sacramento on Friday.