Mystics’ Win Is Unemotional

There was no way to take away the grin on DeLisha Milton-Jones’ face. Or the grim looks on the Sparks’ faces.

Milton-Jones, who was traded by the Sparks to Washington before the start of the 2005 season, was a non-factor when the teams met in May.

But on Tuesday, she had 15 points and seven rebounds to help Washington to a 74-68 victory over the Sparks at Staples Center.

It was the first win in franchise history for the Mystics in Los Angeles -- the first victory over the Sparks anywhere since Aug. 14, 1999, ending an eight-game losing streak -- and it was a win they deserved.

The Mystics (10-10), playing the fourth game of a five-game trip against Western Conference teams, outrebounded the Sparks, 29-20. They outshot the Sparks, 50% to 43.6%. They out-hustled the Sparks for most of the loose balls.

They had desire and purpose and emotion -- except for Milton-Jones, who was not going to let her emotions overtake her the way they did in the first meeting against her old team in Washington.

“My emotions were in check this time,” Milton-Jones said. “First time around I was fresh off a plane from Spain, didn’t know [her teammates], didn’t know the offense. My body wasn’t even here yet. And then I had to play a team like L.A.

“They got us in Washington. This time we were prepared physically, mentally, and me emotionally.”

As for the Mystics -- whose starting five of Milton-Jones, Charlotte Smith-Taylor (11 points), Chasity Melvin (14), Alana Beard (14) and Temeka Johnson (11) all scored in double figures -- “the only thing on our minds was to play as a team and win the basketball game. What else comes along with it was a bonus,” Milton-Jones said.

Even though they had 17 assists on their 24 baskets, team play seems like the furthest thing from the Sparks (10-9) right now.

It was the second consecutive loss at home for the Sparks, who were tied with Washington at the half, 40-40. They did get a career-high 16 points from reserve Doneeka Hodges (on her 23rd birthday), 17 points from Chamique Holdsclaw and 11 points by Lisa Leslie, who strained a hamstring late in the second half. She will undergo an MRI exam today.

The Sparks begin an eight-game trip Saturday in Houston.

With playoff positioning so close in the West, the trip could define or ruin their season.

After the game, Coach Henry Bibby sounded as if he were searching for answers to issues that should have been solved before this.

“We didn’t come out with any energy, we didn’t come out ready to play,” Bibby said. “We didn’t come out like these games are important. I have concern about our level of urgency.”

So does Leslie, who said she planned to have a players’ only meeting after the game.

“We need to shower, grab something to eat and just sit down and figure what we want to do,” Leslie said. “People want to probably look at our coaches and all that, but a lot of it is effort, Xs and O’s and us just moving the ball around.

“We make two passes and then the shot. It’s very difficult and frustrating for all of us. It is not Lisa’s show or Chamique’s show; that’s not going to win it. We have to find a way to win together and that’s what our meeting will be about today. We can either fix it and change it, or we won’t.”

Before the game, the Sparks signed veteran guard Edniesha Curry to a seven-day contract.