SPARKS TONIGHT

at Minnesota, 5 PDT

* Site--Target Center, Minneapolis.

* Records--Sparks 5-4, Minnesota 4-3.

* Record vs. Lynx--0-1.

* Update--The Lynx, who embarrassed the Sparks at the Forum last week, 86-73, are playing the same physical brand of basketball in the WNBA that Coach Brian Agler used in Columbus, where his Quest teams won the only two ABL championships. He brought five Quest players with him, and all five had a hand in the Forum blowout. Spark Coach Orlando Woolridge later demanded a tougher, up-tempo defensive game from his players and the club has responded with victories over Sacramento and Utah. Anyone playing the Lynx, Utah guard Debbie Black says, might want to wear pads. “A lot of people think of Natalie Williams as being a physical player, but she’s not nearly as physical as Katie Smith and Angie Pothoff,” she said. “Those two really come after you.” The Sparks will need to shut down forward Brandy Reed, who scored 28 in the win at Los Angeles. While the Sparks were blowing out Utah on Tuesday, 102-70, the Lynx were losing at Sacramento, 79-62. The Sparks’ Lisa Leslie is still wearing a brace to protect her sprained wrist, Ukari Figgs has a sore knee and Mwadi Mabika has a sore neck. All will play tonight.