SPARKS TODAY

vs. Sacramento, 12:30 p.m.

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- 1150 (delayed at 7 p.m.).

Records -- Sparks 23-9, Monarchs 20-11.

Record vs. Monarchs -- 2-0.

Update -- Normally a split of the eight-game road trip the Sparks just finished would be reasonably satisfying. But the team lost the last three games of that trip, and the momentum it was building for the WNBA playoffs has stalled. “It was good that we clinched [first place] with several games to play. The bad is clinching with several games to play,” Coach Joe Bryant said Tuesday. “Because we established home-court advantage in the Western Conference early ... sometimes veterans can think, ‘OK, I’ll wait for the second season.’ I understand that. But we just can’t turn the switch on and off. We have to play these last two games like playoff games.” It hasn’t helped that Chamique Holdsclaw, the team’s second-leading scorer (15.3), sat out the last two road games against Connecticut and Phoenix because of an injured left foot. Bryant said he hoped to have Holdsclaw back today. The Sparks will begin the first round in either Houston or Seattle on Aug. 18, followed by Game 2 on Aug. 20 and Game 3 (if necessary) on Aug. 22.

Tickets -- (213) 480-3232.

-- Mike Terry