FLASHY SPARKS TOO HOT TO HANDLE L.A. STORMS PAST UTAH TO REACH WNBA FINALS AGAIN SPARKS 103, UTAH 77.Byline: Joe Stevens Staff Writer The Sparks put together a highlight reel of fancy layups, slick passes and creative celebrations. Lisa Leslie Mimicking the Harlem Globetrotters Harlem Globetrotters African American professional basketball team. The team was organized in 1927 in Chicago by the promoter Abe Saperstein and initially was a competitive team that won a world professional championship in 1940. at times, the Sparks easily defeated the Utah Starzz 103-77 in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals Saturday in front of 10,139 at Staples Center This article has multiple issues: * Its neutrality is disputed. * It may contain original research or unverifiable claims. * It does not cite any references or sources. . The defending-champion Sparks completed a sweep, won their eighth consecutive game and set a playoff record with their point total. They will travel to New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of or Washington, depending on which team wins the Eastern Conference title, but won't play until Thursday. Before talking about that matchup, the Sparks reveled in their victory. ``We felt like the Lakers of the '80s,'' Dixon said. Sparks coach Michael Cooper ``I've been around the Sparks for three and a half years,'' Cooper said. ``And this is the best I've seen the team play.'' The Sparks took charge in the first half. After the Starzz led 16-10, the Sparks went on a 24-2 run that appeared to demoralize de·mor·al·ize tr.v. de·mor·al·ized, de·mor·al·iz·ing, de·mor·al·iz·es 1. To undermine the confidence or morale of; dishearten: an inconsistent policy that demoralized the staff. their opponents. About that mammoth run, Latasha Byears Latasha Nashay Byears (born August 12, 1973 in Memphis, Tennessee) is a professional women's basketball player who plays for the Houston Comets in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). said, ``It's like a wave of energy, and everybody feels it. Everybody's into it. It's a groove or something like that.'' The Sparks built their lead to 41-22 with 3:43 left in the first half. In the second half they continued to beat up on Utah, leading by as many as 30 points. ``We ran into a machine that was clicking on all cylinders,'' Utah coach Candi Harvey said. ``The Sparks are shooting the ball as well as any team I have ever seen.'' The Sparks beat Utah in every statistical category. They moved the ball with ease, committed just eight turnovers and had an impressive 31 assists. ``Everyone was doing her part,'' Leslie said. ``We moved the ball around and let the ball find the open player. The assists just show how unselfish of a team we are.'' All the Sparks starters scored in double figures, led by Leslie, who had a game-high 25 points. DeLisha Milton started in place of Marlies Askamp Marlies Askamp (born on August 7, 1970 in Dorsten, Recklinghausen, of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany) is a German professional basketball player. She was one of the original players to play in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). and responded with 19 points. Dixon had 15 points and eight assists, and Nikki Teasley had 11 points and nine assists. For the second consecutive game, the Sparks took advantage of a mismatch with 7-foot-2 center Margo Dydek. They took the ball outside against Dydek and either drove around her or got open jump shots. But that mismatch was just a small part of the Sparks' dominance. Only two Starzz scored in double figures as Adrienne Goodson and Jennifer Azzi each had 16 points. Azzi also collected 12 assists, which tied a WNBA WNBA Women's National Basketball Association WNBA World Ninepin Bowling Association WNBA Wannabe Nasty Boys Association WNBA Women's National Book Association, Inc. WNBA Warszawski Nurt Basketu Amatorskiego playoff record. Utah wasn't expected to be in the Western finals until it upset Houston in the first round. Even though the Sparks are back in the Finals, some doubted they could beat the Comets with Sheryl Swoopes. Sparks players said repeating as WNBA champions should validate them as a basketball powerhouse. ``Whatever we do, no one really wants to give us our just do,'' Milton said. ``Everyone always has an excuse. If we do beat them or happen to be on top, there's always an excuse. But the only way that we can rectify all of this is to get another championship.'' CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- color) Sparks center Lisa Leslie, who scored a game-high 25 points, goes up against Utah's Natalie Williams. (2) The Sparks' Tamecka Dixon, who finished with 15 points and eight assists, drives past Utah's Semeka Randall. Edna T. Simpson/Daily News |
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