Sparks Get Back Up Against Starzz

After being left for dead Thursday by Houston, the Sparks discovered they still have a pulse.

Los Angeles huffed and puffed and chased after the Utah Starzz for nearly two hours Friday. But they made their last stand on defense their best, holding the Starzz scoreless for the final 3:20 to pull off an 85-77 victory before 12,578 at the Delta Center.

Trailing 77-75 after a free throw by Starzz guard Marie Ferdinand, who led Utah with 19 points, the Sparks closed within a point with DeLisha Milton’s free throw. When Milton missed her second free throw, Marlies Askamp snared the rebound and threw the ball out to Mwadi Mabika, who put the Sparks ahead for good with a 15-footer.

Mabika finished with 18 points and nine rebounds, and Lisa Leslie led the Sparks with 19 points and seven rebounds.

The victory pulled Los Angeles (23-7) into a tie with Houston for first place in the Western Conference.

But with its win Thursday night, Houston holds the tiebreaker advantage over the Sparks, so L.A. must lead the Comets by one game in the Western standings in order to gain the home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.

The Sparks, who shot 50.8% (32 of 63) and had a 34-33 rebounding edge, will worry about that later. The victory was enough to remove some of the stain of Thursday, when they shot a franchise-low 25.7% against the Comets.

“We showed some heart tonight,” Coach Michael Cooper said. “This was a game we could have easily lost in the first half. But we stuck together and kept working on some things we wanted to do defensively.

“We showed a desire to win, and that’s what our games are about. Tonight, when the game was there to be won, we took it. And that’s what we have to do. The championship is not going to be given, like last year. We have to take it.”

Cooper, who attended the funeral of Laker broadcaster Chick Hearn Friday morning before flying to Utah, shook up his starting lineup, using Askamp ahead of regular Milton.

The lightly used Askamp responded with 12 points and five rebounds in 18 minutes. Milton, who was one for 13 against Houston, had 11 points in 25 minutes.

“Yesterday it was not only losing, but the way we lost,” Askamp said. “You could see a difference in the team effort overall. We were a lot more disciplined.”

Said Milton: “I was surprised [at not starting] but I’m also a team player. And getting the win comes first.”

The Starzz, in an effort to see how drained the Sparks were from their Thursday game and Friday morning flight, came out running. Their attack came in waves. Center Margo Dydek (11 points, six blocks) lobbed soft jumpers from inside the key.

LaTonya Johnson dropped in three three-pointers.

Natalie Williams (13 points) and Adrienne Goodson (15 points) shot effectively outside and inside.

By the 4:45 mark of the first half, the Starzz had made 14 of 25 shots and were ahead, 35-23.

But Dydek and Johnson each got in foul trouble and had to sit. Milton made consecutive three-pointers during a Sparks’ 11-3 run.

By halftime, the Sparks had closed to within 43-39 and in the second half seemed to have better poise in the final minutes.

Starzz Coach Candi Harvey wondered how much better her team has to play to defeat the Sparks.

“We have to play better defense,” Harvey said. “We’ve given up 100, 90 and 85 points to the Sparks. And the magic number with them is between 70 and 75. They’re a great defensive team that dares you to try to outscore them.”