SPARKS BEAT LYNX TO AVOID ELIMINATION SPARKS 80, MINNESOTA 69.Byline: Ben Villa Staff Writer After a tough loss Thursday in which they blew the biggest lead in 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 history, the Sparks came out Saturday and did what all champions do when facing elimination. They fought hard and avoided an early vacation. Lisa Leslie * Its neutrality is disputed. * It may contain original research or unverifiable claims. * It does not cite any references or sources. . The Sparks know they probably should have won the first-round series with a victory Saturday, but they blew a 21-point lead Thursday and lost 74-72 to Minnesota in the closing seconds. The series will conclude at 7 p.m. Monday night at Staples Center with the winner moving on to the Western Conference Finals. ``I thought this was a good game and we had to have it,'' Sparks coach Michael Cooper ``Come Monday night, it doesn't matter if we have to fight, scratch or claw, we've got to find away to come away with another victory. If that means that everybody has to play the entire 40 minutes, then so be it.'' The two-time defending-champion Sparks took a 13-7 lead on a basket by Dixon, and then moments later, they went on a 15-2 run to extend to a 28-12 lead with eight minutes remaining in the half. The Lynx cut into the lead, pulling within 34-26 on a basket by Katie Smith Katherine May “Katie” Smith (born June 4, 1974 in Lancaster, Ohio) is a professional basketball player for the Detroit Shock in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Her primary position is shooting guard. Sometimes she plays small forward. . But Leslie made two free throws at the end of the first half as the Sparks took a 10-point lead into intermission. ``We've faced elimination before a couple of years ago so we knew that if we got off to a slow start tonight, the season could be over,'' Leslie said. ``We worked hard to get the home court advantage, to play in front of our fans and tonight it really helped. ``We came out with a lot of intensity and we shot the ball well. But with Minnesota, we knew that after Thursday, no lead was safe.'' CAPTION(S): photo Photo: The Sparks' DeLisha Milton puts up a shot over Minnesota's Janell Burse Janell Burse (born May 19, 1979 in New Orleans, Louisiana) is a 6'5" women's basketball player who is the starting center for the Seattle Storm of the WNBA. After playing college ball at Tulane University, Burse was drafted in the second round (28th overall) by the Minnesota during L.A.'s victory Saturday in Game 2. Diandra Jay/Staff Photographer |
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