Mercury Top Sparks in Western Conference Finals
Friday, Sep 25, 2009 | Updated 11:30 AM PST
AP
Los Angeles Sparks' Candace Parker (right) tries to score over Phoenix Mercury's Diana Taurasi during the third quarter of Game 1 of the WNBA basketball Western Conference finals.
Unfortunately, the Los Angeles Sparks are no strangers to being scooted to other establishments during playoffs.
Last year's Western Conference playoff game was at USC's Galen Center. Moreover, Wednesday's venue de jour was UCLA's Pauley Pavilion against the Phoenix Mercury for Game 1 of the WNBA Western Conference finals.
The Sparks were forced out of their downtown home arena because of a Britney Spears concert at Staples Center.
With the likes of Vivica A. Fox and Magic Johnson among the celebrities surrounding the court perimeter, one would know this would be sure to be one of the better WNBA match-ups this year.
Don Lugo High School (Chino) alumna, Diana Taurasi, made herself at home on the road, burying shot after shot against the Sparks, and even shaking hands with Magic Johnson in the fourth quarter. Taurasi scored 28 points before fouling out and the Mercury hit 14 3-pointers to win 103-94.
Playing the fourth quarter with five fouls, Taurasi made five of her six free throws over the final 1:09 to win. Penny Taylor added 18 points, including four 3-pointers.
Candace Parker led the Sparks with 28 points and 10 rebounds. Tina Thompson added 25 points and Lisa Leslie 19.
"We still believe we can take care of business in Phoenix and send Smooth out with a ring," Parker said, referring to Leslie who will retire at season's end.
The game was tied twice early in the fourth and the Sparks twice closed within two in the final 1:09. But they were forced to foul and Taurasi and Smith were solid at the line.
"In keeping with this year's theme, we always do things the hard way," Parker said. "Losing this game makes it harder, but not impossible. We would make a silly turnover or take an ill-advised 3-pointer. The game is right there, it's not like we were blown out."
Thompson, Parker and Leslie controlled the Sparks' offense in the third quarter, when they outscored the Mercury 22-19. Phoenix extended its lead to 69-61 late in the third on five straight points by Taylor. Thompson was in the midst of her own 8-0 run, capped by a 3-pointer, and Noelle Quinn hit two free throws to get the Sparks within one. Ketia Swanier hit a 3-pointer to keep the Mercury ahead 72-68 heading into the final 10 minutes.
"As Pat Riley says, 'The playoffs begin when one team wins on another team's floor,"' Sparks Coach Michael Cooper said. "We can play against this team. I don't think, I know."
Phoenix led by 10 points early in the second quarter before the Sparks used a 20-10 run to tie the game at 44. Parker had 10 points in the spurt. But the Mercury regained the lead with a 9-2 run to go into halftime ahead 53-46. Quinn, who played collegiately at UCLA committed two turnovers and Leslie fouled Taurasi, who completed the three-point play.
Sparks have a chance to represent the West Coast in the championship finals, starting with a win in Game 2 on Friday in Phoenix. Tipoff is at 7 p.m.
