Sparks Are Convincing Yet Again

Here’s some bad news for WNBA Western Conference teams:

Coach Orlando Woolridge may have bottled the magic elixir that drove the Sparks to Sunday’s upset victory over the Houston Comets.

They impressed again Wednesday night, routing the Phoenix Mercury, 84-63, at the Great Western Forum and moving into a second-place tie with Sacramento at 12-6 in the conference standings.

Suddenly, the Sparks are playing the WNBA’s best ball.

Suddenly, overtaking Houston (14-4) atop the West is not out of the question.

The Sparks have won nine of their last 11 and are 2-0 on a homestand that has four games left.

The only unpleasant part of the evening was, as usual, attendance. It was 5,723.

One of the spectators was WNBA president Val Ackerman.

Ackerman and Spark president Johnny Buss have a contentious relationship over a range of issues, including whether the Sparks should abide by a league rule requiring WNBA teams to play in NBA arenas, meaning Staples Center.

With the Democratic Convention tying up the new arena for more than three weeks next summer, it could mean a three-week-plus road trip for the Sparks. Buss says he’ll keep the team at the Forum one more summer before doing that.

Moreover, neither Buss nor his father, Laker owner Jerry Buss, will comment publicly on whether their commitment to keep the Sparks runs past this season.

Ackerman was asked if she’d met with both Busses on Wednesday.

“I didn’t meet with either one,” she said.

Said Johnny Buss: “She said she’d come by our office this morning, but she didn’t.”

Meanwhile, the Sparks started with plenty left over from Sunday’s 78-65 demolition of Houston. They burst to a 33-19 lead with 5:46 left and never looked back.

Los Angeles finished the half with a 17-6 run, capped by a buzzer-beating 18-footer by Tamecka Dixon for a 50-25 lead.

Guard Gordana Grubin, for the second consecutive game, was a major contributor early, making three straight three-point baskets to create a 22-10 lead. She has now made nine of her last 17 three-pointers and is seven for 11 the last two games.

Grubin was one of five Sparks in double figures, scoring 11 points. Lisa Leslie and Mercury center Jennifer Gillom had 18 apiece.

Leslie, in 31 minutes, had two blocked shots, two steals, five assists and even sank a three-pointer in her 18 points.

Woolridge: “That MVP award at the All-Star game has done wonders for her confidence. She’s really playing strong now, going to the basket.”

The Sparks played tough perimeter and interior defense and passed the ball crisply on offense, registering 27 assists, 17 by halftime.

“It’s our defense,” said Woolridge, when asked about the last two games.

“We believe in our defense now. We took Phoenix out of what they like to do, out of their comfort zone.”

Phoenix shot 29%, Los Angeles 50%. Sunday, the Sparks limited the Comets to 38%.