SPARKS TODAY

at Houston, 1 PDT, Channel 7

Site -- Compaq Arena.

Radio -- KPLS (830).

Records -- Sparks 20-10, Comets 19-9.

Record vs. Comets -- 1-1.

Update -- By beating Minnesota on Thursday, 87-83, the Sparks pulled within percentage points of Houston for first place in the West. Both today’s game and the season finale in Los Angeles on Aug. 25 could be pivotal in determining the tiebreaker edge for home-court advantage in the Western Conference. Lisa Leslie scored 19 points Thursday in her first game since injuring her right knee July 15. DeLisha Milton (ankle) also returned to the lineup after missing three games, scoring 21 points and getting 11 rebounds.

-- Mike Terry