SPARKS TONIGHT at Houston, 5:30 PDT

Site -- Toyota Center.

Radio -- 1150.

Records -- Sparks 20-6, Comets 14-11.

Record vs. Comets -- 2-0.

Update -- Los Angeles still has the league’s best record and is the first WNBA team to reach 20 victories, which pretty much locks up a playoff slot. But the Sparks are only three games ahead of the red-hot (and defending champion) Sacramento Monarchs, who have won seven consecutive going into their game tonight against Indiana. Houston, which has lost five of its last six games against the Sparks, is trying to hang on to third place with Seattle and Phoenix charging. The Comets are still missing Dominique Canty (broken finger) and Tina Thompson (strained left calf) but did end a two-game skid by defeating Minnesota on July 20. The Sparks, winners of seven of their last eight, are coming off a 73-68 victory at Indiana on Saturday. This is the Sparks’ third game in an eight-game trip.

-- Mike Terry