Sparks Today

AT HOUSTON

1 PDT, CHANNEL 4

Site--Compaq Center.

Radio--KWKU (1220).

Regular-season records--Sparks 28-4, Comets 19-13.

Record vs. Comets--2-1.

Update--The Sparks might not have expected to make a heavy emotional investment in the first round of the WNBA playoffs, but it is here in the form of Houston, which has won every league title. But if there was ever a year to snatch the championship from the Comets, this is it. Houston, which tied Utah for third but is the fourth-place team because Utah won the season series between the teams, has struggled since losing top performers Cynthia Cooper (retired) and Sheryl Swoopes (injury). Tina Thompson averaged 19.3 points and Janeth Arcain 18.5, but no other Comet averaged more than six points in the regular season. Four Sparks scored in double figures, led by Lisa Leslie with a 19.5 average. But Leslie has struggled her last three games, making only 12 of 53 shots. “I think I haven’t shot well, but if I was going to hit a slump, that was the time to do it,” she said. “At the same time, I didn’t have the chance to work on things, especially with back-to-back games in Utah and Portland [at season’s end]. Against Houston, I was out of my rhythm. But I was able to work on some things the last couple of days.”