Sparks Help Their Chances With Victory

The WNBA playoff picture is coming into focus. And this much is clear for the Sparks.

Win and they’re in.

Tuesday’s 74-63 victory over Minnesota at Staples Center not only pulled Los Angeles (16-16) back to .500, it pulled them into a tie with Phoenix for the fourth and final playoff spot, thanks to the Mercury’s loss in Sacramento.

Houston is in third, half a game ahead of Phoenix and the Sparks. Phoenix, which finishes against Houston and Seattle, has the tiebreaker with the Sparks. But the Sparks, who play San Antonio and Houston, have the tiebreaker with the Comets.

“We really haven’t talked about [the playoffs],” Coach Joe Bryant said. “That’s really not our focus. If you start thinking about it, you put undue pressure on yourself. It’s not about that; it’s about playing well, getting the momentum and playing to the best of your ability.

“But if we do win our last two, we’re in on our own merit and not depending on someone else. I think that’s the most important thing right now.”

This was the Sparks’ third victory in a row, matching their longest win streak of the season, and fourth in the last five games.

Chamique Holdsclaw (20 points) and Tamika Whitmore (17) were the primary scorers, so Lisa Leslie (eight points) concentrated on the boards, gathering 10 rebounds. Reserves Raffaella Masciadri and Doneeka Hodges contributed nine and seven points, respectively.

“It’s about time we got on a roll,” Whitmore said. “We know it’s up to us. We’re masters of our own destiny. That’s pretty much the details right there. We’ve got to handle our business.”

The day began expensively for Bryant when he learned he had been fined by the WNBA for his verbal exchange with Houston Coach Van Chancellor at the end of Sunday’s game. Chancellor was also fined. Neither amount was disclosed, but Bryant’s tab could be as high as $500.

Bryant was more disappointed that Houston forward Tina Thompson was not suspended for her hard foul of Spark forward Laura Macchi. Thompson was fined for a Flagrant 2 foul and received a fine for an unsportsmanlike act. The minimum for each fine is $300.

But Thompson is eligible to play in the Comets’ final two games.

“[Macchi] could have been seriously injured on that play. It could have easily tore up her knee,” Bryant said. “That’s even worse than a punch, I think.”

Team President Johnny Buss was more than disappointed.

“The WNBA is creating a situation where violence is now in the minds of players as something they can get away with,” Buss said. “It would have been one thing if they had found no violence. But they fined her. So obviously they saw something.

“The league said six people reviewed the tape at the WNBA office, and all agreed it was not a violent enough act for a suspension. So now I know if one of our players takes someone’s legs out, it’s OK.

“That’s not right, that’s not fair.”

Macchi appeared displeased when told Thompson was only fined but declined to comment.