Stars-Sparks Preview By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer
The Los Angeles Sparks maintained their best start in 13 years over an extended road trip, and they'll try to keep rolling by adding to their recent success against the San Antonio Stars. The well-rested Sparks seek another win in that series Thursday night when the teams begin a home-and-home set. The Sparks improved to 5-0 and swept their four-game trek with a 77-72 win over Connecticut last Thursday. Candace Parker's two free throws with 7.8 seconds left sealed the victory and finished off her 22-point night. Following its weeklong break, Los Angeles will play just its second home game after a 96-66 rout of Seattle on May 15 and will try to extend its best start since going 9-0 in 2003. The Sparks have won five of six against the Stars (1-3) overall and five of the last six home meetings. They claimed victories in each of San Antonio's two visits in 2015 as part of the five-game season series. The Stars have also gotten a few days off after earning their first win in 2016, a 79-78 victory against Chicago on Friday. Haley Peters scored all of her career-high 16 points in the final period, helping San Antonio to rally from a 15-point deficit late in the third quarter. San Antonio's past three games have been decided by a combined 10 points, and the team suffered an overtime loss to Atlanta in its opener May 14. "We've been in every basketball game. I just appreciate the fact that they kind of finished the deal on this one and maybe we can gain some confidence," coach Dan Hughes said. The Stars are playing just their second road game of the season and first outside their home state. They lost 82-77 in their inaugural trip to Dallas on May 21. Los Angeles split last season's first two games against San Antonio while Parker was on a self-imposed hiatus. She led the Sparks in rebounds in each of the final three meetings, grabbing at least 11 in each contest. Jantel Lavender averaged 21.2 points on 58.9 percent shooting and went 20 for 20 from the line against San Antonio. She's scoring 9.2 points per game this season, well off her career-best 14.5 in 2015. Parker, meanwhile, is currently averaging a career-best 20.8 points and totaled 48 in the final two games on the road trip after scoring a combined 22 in the first two contests. She had 34 points in the home blowout of Seattle. The Sparks and Stars play again Saturday night in San Antonio. |