SPARKS TODAY

vs. Sacramento, 1 p.m., Channel 7

Site -- Staples Center.

Record vs. Monarchs (playoffs) -- 0-1.

Update -- The Sparks won 15 of 17 regular-season games at home. One of those losses was to Sacramento, however, so don’t expect the Monarchs to feel any pressure. The Sparks will need some key performances if they are to avoid elimination. Mabika Mwadi scored 15 points Friday, but she missed eight of 13 shots, and got the bulk of her points when the game was out of reach. Nikki Teasley had six assists but made only one of seven from the field. That allowed the Monarch defense to concentrate on shutting down Lisa Leslie, whose 10 points were a career playoff low. But the Sparks’ MVP candidate had four other subpar games during the regular season -- four points against Sacramento on June 3, eight against Indiana on June 25, six against New York on June 29 and nine against Minnesota on Sept. 17. In the four games after those single-digit performances, Leslie averaged 18 points a game.

Tickets -- (877) 962-2849 or (213) 480-3232.

--Mike Terry