SPARKS TONIGHT

at Detroit, 4:30 PDT

* Site--The Palace at Auburn Hills, Mich.

* Records--Sparks 6-4, Shock 5-4.

* Record vs. Shock (1998)--0-3.

* Update--The Sparks hope their two-game exhibition results will carry some weight into tonight’s first regular-season matchup with the Shock. While they were still in training camp, the Sparks thrashed Nancy Lieberman-Cline’s team at the Arrowhead Pond, 108-69, then won at Flint, Mich., 89-83. The Shock was without four potential starters in those games and one of them is still missing, first draft pick Jennifer Azzi, the 1996 Olympian and ABL San Jose point guard who has a thigh injury. Lieberman-Cline has installed a three-Aussie lineup, benching starters Val Whiting and Korie Hlede. The Australians are Carla Porter and Rachel Sporn at forward and Sandy Brondello at guard. Cindy Brown starts at center and Alabama rookie Dominique Canty is the new point guard.