CHAMPS SLUMPING SPARKS LOSE SECOND IN A ROW AT STAPLES SEATTLE 81, SPARKS 76.

Byline: Joe Stevens Staff Writer

Approximately 25 minutes passed after the Sparks' 81-76 loss to the Seattle Storm, and there was no sign of any Spark.

A lengthy closed-door meeting followed the Sparks' second consecutive home loss Thursday night at Staples Center. It was a rare loss, considering the Sparks hadn't lost two in a row at home since July 1998, when the team was struggling and finished the season 12-18.

Sparks president Johnny Buss and general manager Penny Toler each addressed the players, trying to figure out why the Sparks are in a funk. The fact that Buss made some statements showed how pressing the issue might be.

``That happens only about every blue moon,'' Sparks forward DeLisha Milton said. ``The only time we like to see Johnny is when we're popping the corks off champagne.''

Although the Sparks (20-6) lost again, they hold a half-game edge over the Houston Comets for home-court advantage throughout the WNBA playoffs. But even with that edge, they aren't as crisp as they've been, and the days of easy victories - which actually were just a week ago - seem far away.

``If anyone else wanted to trade our season for theirs, they would do it in a heartbeat,'' Milton said. ``But we are so much a better team than what we're presenting out on the court. The thing for us is to try to figure out what we need to do. And maybe that's the problem. Everyone's in here, thinking too much.''

The obvious problem for the Sparks on Thursday was their 18 turnovers. Otherwise, they had a relatively good statistical game. They outrebounded the Storm 37-27, shot 50 percent and Lisa Leslie had game highs with 30 points and 16 rebounds.

The turnovers doomed them, however, as the Storm gave the ball away only eight times.

``We played well,'' Sparks coach Michael Cooper said. ``If you look at the stat sheet, you cannot tell if we won or if we lost. Our turnovers are what was disappointing.''

With 12 lead changes, the game was tight. Seattle (15-13) took a 61-60 lead with 7:38 left and stayed on top until the end.

The Sparks even had a chance to tie it in the closing seconds. Tamecka Dixon threw up a 3-point shot with seven seconds left, but it hit only air. Cooper said he thought Dixon was fouled, but he added the officiating wasn't what lost the game for the Sparks.

Free throws, however, might be another story. The Sparks made just 3 of 7, while the Storm made 18 of 21.

The Sparks had a tough time containing the Storm's big players. Lauren Jackson had a team-high 19 points, and Kamila Vodichkova had 18 points and 10 rebounds. Rookie guard Sue Bird added 17 points and 10 assists.

``It definitely is good to beat L.A. in L.A. and win the series, two games to one,'' Seattle coach Lin Dunn said. ``I think L.A., Houston and New York are the best teams in the league, and when you beat them in their home gym, it's a wonderful, wonderful day for our franchise.''

--Notes: Mwadi Mabika missed two free throws to end her consecutive free-throw streak at 36. She did not miss a free throw in July. Leslie holds the team record of 46 consecutive free throws, and Eva Nemcova holds the WNBA mark with 66.

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The Sparks' Mwadi Mabika goes up for a shot against Seattle Thursday night at Staples Center.

Edna T. Simpson/Daily News