Sparks Tonight

Game 1,

Western Conference finals, at Sacramento, 6, ESPN

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Site--Arco Arena.

Radio--KWKU (1220).

Record vs. Monarchs (regular season)--3-0.

Other series games: Sunday at Staples Center, 2 p.m. (ESPN2); Monday (if necessary) at Staples Center, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)

How they got here: Sparks defeated Houston, 2-0, in the first round; Monarchs defeated Utah, 2-0.

Update: For all the attention the big players such as Lisa Leslie and Yolanda Griffith will get, the series could swing on which team gets the most from smaller players. “All the [Sacramento] guards have the ability to have great scoring nights,” Tamecka Dixon said of Monarchs Kedra Holland-Corn, Ruthie Bolton-Holifield and Edna Campbell (who plays guard and forward). “We’ll have to play them straight up. They can do anything, they have well-rounded games.” Monarch point guard Ticha Penicheiro may be the key. She was the league leader in assists, averaging 7.5 a game. But she scored only 6.3 points a game and made only 34% of her shots. “If she can beat us, then it’s not our night,” Dixon said. On the other hand, Sacramento has to keep the streaky Dixon from the outside as much as possible andnot let her drive down the middle of its defense.

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Eastern Conference finals

Game 1, New York at Charlotte, today, 4 p.m. (ESPN)

Game 2, Charlotte at New York, 11 a.m. (ESPN2)

Game 3 (if necessary), Charlotte at New York, 5 p.m. (ESPN2)