Sparks Tonight

AT DETROIT, 4:30 PDT

Site--The Palace at Auburn Hills, Mich.

Radio--KWKU (1220).

Records--Sparks 9-3, Shock 3-6.

Record vs. Shock (2000)--1-0.

Update--When the Sparks left Los Angeles they were unbeaten and the toast of the WNBA. Tonight they will try to avoid losing their fourth in a row on this trip. “This is why it was important to get off to the start we did,” Coach Michael Cooper said. “We’ll go back hopefully tied for first place. We’re disappointed with how we’ve done, but we’re still in a pretty good position.” With Saturday’s loss to the Indiana Fever, the Shock is also on a three-game slide. Cooper probably will not be suspended for his critical remarks about league referees last Friday in Cleveland, but he will be fined.