SPARKS TONIGHT

Opponent--Utah Starzz.

Site--Forum.

Time--7:30.

Records--Sparks 7-10, Utah 4-12.

Update--Western Conference leader Phoenix (8-6) has lost two in a row and the Sparks, with two consecutive road victories behind them, want to launch a run to the playoffs tonight, the opener of a three-game home stand. They play Houston on Friday and Charlotte on Sunday. A sweep would put Julie Rousseau’s team at .500 with eight games left, with Phoenix having to play at New York, Houston and Los Angeles. In the recent victories, the Sparks have pushed the ball inside early to Zheng Haixia in the low post and, when defenses collapse around her, turned loose new starting guard Tamecka Dixon for mid-range jump shots. Utah, 2-8 in its last 10 games, is led by Wendy Palmer (15.5 points) and Elena Baranova (12.9).