Sparks Quiet Storm, 76-63
Methodically but expertly, the Sparks avenged one of their few losses this season by defeating Seattle, 76-63, Thursday night at the Great Western Forum, boosting their win streak to seven.
The first-place Sparks (23-3) finished the season 15-1 at home and can now try for a landmark achievement Saturday afternoon--their first win at Houston.
For the fourth straight season, Spark home attendance declined. Thursday’s crowd, 6,455, brought the season average to 6,563.
The team averaged 7,625 last season and 8,931 in the inaugural 1997 season.
Perhaps their attendance woes will be alleviated next season, however, as Staples Center sources and Spark President Johnny Buss say negotiations are moving steadily toward a lease for the Sparks next summer.
The victory over Seattle, never in question yet sometimes ugly, squared matters with the 4-21 Storm, which on June 13 had beaten the Sparks at Key Arena, 69-59. The Sparks have lost only once since while Seattle has won only twice. The Storm has lost seven of its last eight.
Just another step in the long march, Coach Michael Cooper said.
“It was methodical, kind of ugly, but it was another step toward where we want to go,” he said.
He shrugged at first, when asked about Saturday’s game at Houston.
“Here we come,” he said.
“We’ve beaten them twice this season [in L.A.] and I’m sure they’ve had this date penciled in.”
The game at Houston is the first on a six-game, 13-day trip to finish the regular season.
“Pat Riley used to tell us championships are won on the road, so this is our chance,” Cooper added.
The Sparks, who committed 16 turnovers, saw a lot of breakaways short-circuited by the Storm’s solid midcourt defense, but still shot 49% for the game, 52% in the first half en route to a 39-28 lead at the break.
The Storm has the worst record in the 16-team league, but Coach Lin Dunn was unbowed.
“We shot 41% tonight against a very good defensive team,” she said.
“We’ve had everyone healthy for four games now and I thought we played with a lot of confidence tonight.”
Asked to compare the Spark club Seattle beat six weeks ago to the current juggernaut, Dunn pointed to Lisa Leslie, who had 18 points and seven rebounds. Leslie’s streak of 49 successful free-throw attempts ended when she missed one with 5:11 to play.
“The Sparks are doing a much better job of getting the ball into the low post than when we played them the last time,” she said.
“Their high-low game is better and so is their transition offense. We just don’t have enough bullies. . . . And yet I thought we got some good looks in the paint tonight.”
Tamecka Dixon had another solid defensive performance, allowing Edna Campbell only nine points. She was asked about prospects at Compaq Center.
“I’m very confident if we can play our hardest down there, we will win,” she said.
Seattle guard Sonja Henning, not known for her shooting, made six of 10 and had a game high 19 points.
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In the other WNBA game Thursday night, Ruthie Bolton-Holifield scored 18 of her 24 points in the second half as the Sacramento Monarchs held on for a 73-66 win over the Orlando Magic before 7,196 at Sacramento.
Bolton-Holifield made five three-point shots and keyed a 9-0 run late in the game that helped Sacramento (17-10) win for the fourth time in five games.
Nykesha Sales kept the Miracle (14-12) close, finishing with 25 points.