Sparks Prove Bigger in Texas

Lisa Leslie had 25 points and 16 rebounds, leading the Sparks past the San Antonio Silver Stars, 80-71, on Thursday night.

Playing without Chamique Holdsclaw, the Sparks used their third starting lineup in the first three games. But it’s the eighth straight season the Sparks (2-1) have started the year by winning at least two of their first three games.

Holdsclaw sat out her third straight game while tending to a “family matter,” according to team officials. Holdsclaw is expected to practice with the team Saturday in Los Angeles.

Kendra Wecker, who sat out almost all of her rookie season a year ago because of an injury, came off the bench to score a career-high 16 points on seven-for-10 shooting for the Silver Stars (1-2).

The Sparks have won nine in a row over the Silver Stars since the 2003 season.

The Sparks led by as many as 15 points in the first half and had a 14-point lead with eight minutes left.

But the Silver Stars outscored the Sparks, 21-9, during the next 6:07 and trailed, 69-67, when Vickie Johnson got an outlet pass to Shannon Johnson for a fastbreak layup with 1:53 left.

But the Sparks got three free throws from Doneeka Hodges-Lewis and a basket in the lane from Leslie to pull ahead by seven with 39 seconds left. Hodges-Lewis scored 14 points. Leslie had 10 of her points in the first quarter.

The Sparks’ Temeka Johnson, last season’s rookie of the year acquired in a trade with Washington during the off-season, sat out the game because of strained right quadriceps. She is expected to miss at least two more games.

Mwadi Mabika, who sat out Tuesday’s game at Charlotte because of a sore knee, returned to the starting lineup. But she was only one for nine from the floor.

Wecker was San Antonio’s first-round draft choice last year. But she played 11 minutes of the season opener before a knee injury kept her out for the remainder of the year.

* WNBA BOX SCORES, D12