In Sparks’ World, No Chance for Mercury

The Western Conference is shaping up as the WNBA’s toughest testing ground, but the Sparks will remain unconcerned as long as Staples Center is their base of operations.

Home is definitely where the victories are for Los Angeles, which chalked up its 27th consecutive home win, and seventh straight overall, by blasting the Phoenix Mercury, 89-66, Tuesday night before 9,698.

Spark guard Mawadi Mabika continued her bid to be chosen for the All-Star game by scoring 20 points. Lisa Leslie, battling foul trouble, had 13 points and 12 rebounds.

“We were saying before the game we had yet to play our best game at home,” Mabika said. “We wanted a good one for the fans tonight.”

More important, with Houston and Utah refusing to let the Sparks run away with the regular-season conference race, home wins are precious.

“You have to take care of business at home,” Spark Coach Michael Cooper said. “And we are very comfortable here.

“I’m not surprised with our performance. We came out on the top of our game. We knew we had to be prepared to play from the beginning or risk getting beat because they have a good team.”

The Sparks got the message.

“You can’t let anyone just come in your house and show off,” said Latasha Byears, who had 12 points and six rebounds off the bench. “I know if someone came in my house trying to steal something, it would get ugly.”

Said Leslie: “We knew [Phoenix] has been playing well. But it’s good to be home; we really hear our fans.”

Phoenix (6-4) hung in as long as it could but ultimately wilted midway against a superior team. And it was hard to stay close when only one player, Gordana Grubin (10 points), reached double figures in scoring.

Coach Cynthia Cooper had a few sharp words for her team afterward.

“You have to come in this building ready to play because the Sparks are a great team. And we weren’t ready to match their intensity. I know our veterans weren’t ready tonight,” she said.

She didn’t name names, but the Phoenix coach could have been referring to starters Lisa Harrison, Jennifer Gillom and Adrain Williams, who combined for 17 points and made a collective seven of 19 shots.

Tuesday’s loss dropped Phoenix to 0-3 on the road.

After playing their next two games at home--including a rematch with the Sparks on Friday--the Mercury will have nine of the next 11 games away from America West Arena.

Looking sharp and energized at the outset, the Sparks made 10 of their first 14 shots and took a 34-14 lead as Phoenix looked dazed and tentative.

For one of the few times this season the Sparks revved up the tempo, leaving Phoenix more than a step behind when the Sparks got the ball in the open court.

But the Mercury whittled the Sparks’ lead by outscoring their hosts, 21-7, over the final 8:26 to trail only 41-35 at halftime.

Phoenix went to a full-court press, causing the Sparks to commit a rash of turnovers (11) and cutting off their fastbreak.

Eager to rest his starters, Michael Cooper substituted liberally toward the end of the half, something he admitted was a mistake.

“I was trying to get players in, but we had too many fresh bodies on the floor at the same time. It was not their fault, it was ours,” said Michael Cooper, referring to himself and his assistant coaches.

Phoenix got as close as four. But a 16-3 run midway through the second half put the Sparks comfortably ahead, 66-48, and the Mercury never seriously threatened again.