Sparks Tonight

vs. Indiana, 7:30

* Site--Staples Center.

* Radio--KWKU (1220).

* Records--Sparks 24-3, Fever 9-19.

* Record vs. Fever (2000)--1-0.

* Update--On the court things couldn’t be better for the Sparks. They have won 15 in a row (matching Houston’s 1998 WNBA record), clinched the Western Conference top playoff seeding and benefited Saturday from the return of injured guard Tamecka Dixon. Dixon, nursing a bad right heel that caused her to sit out three games, scored 14 points in the Sparks’ 79-60 victory over Seattle. Off the court, a problem is brewing. The Sparks will open the playoffs on the road because of the WNBA’s best-of-three series configuration, which allows the lower-seeded team to host the first game. But there is a scheduling conflict for the Sparks’ first home game because rock performer Eric Clapton has two scheduled concerts at Staples Center on Aug. 17-18. NBC wants to televise playoff games on the weekend of Aug. 18-19. And the Sparks are not interested in giving up the home-court advantage they have earned. Something will have to be decided soon by WNBA and NBC officials. Indiana’s concerns are on the court. Currently seventh and eliminated from the Eastern Conference race, the Fever has lost five of its last seven. Guard Rita Williams leads Indiana in scoring (11.3 points).

* Tickets--(877) 962-8499.