SPARKS SLUMP? NOT A CHANCE FATIGUED LESLIE SCORES 16 IN VICTORY SPARKS 87, SACRAMENTO 65.Byline: Joe Stevens Staff Writer Any questions about the Sparks being mired mire n. 1. An area of wet, soggy, muddy ground; a bog. 2. Deep slimy soil or mud. 3. A disadvantageous or difficult condition or situation: the mire of poverty. v. in a slump were answered quickly and with vigor. No, they're not in a slump. And on Friday, they probably played their best game this season. Coming off their first home loss in two years and a lackluster performance by Lisa Leslie * Its neutrality is disputed. * It may contain original research or unverifiable claims. * It does not cite any references or sources. . Leslie had team highs with 16 points and nine rebounds. What was different about this victory from their past 12 was that the Sparks (13-2) took an early lead, 51-30 at halftime, and never let the Monarchs back in the game. In many previous victories, the Sparks had early leads, only to relinquish them and find themselves in tight games. ``That's what we've done all season,'' said DeLisha Milton, who had 14 points and nine rebounds. ``We'd get big leads - by like 17 points - and lose them. Then that's tough when a team's back in the game.'' Sacramento (2-13) never was in this one. After Nikki Teasley Nikki Teasley (born March 22, 1979 in Washington, D.C.) is a basketball player for the Washington Mystics in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played college basketball at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. made a 3-point shot with 7:52 left, the Sparks had a 74-43 lead - their biggest of the game. However, the Monarchs are injury-plagued and in the midst Adv. 1. in the midst - the middle or central part or point; "in the midst of the forest"; "could he walk out in the midst of his piece?" midmost of a rigorous road schedule, one that drew the ire of coach Maura McHugh. ``We have been on the road now for four games in a row,'' McHugh said. ``It is ridiculous. We are in the toughest part of our schedule. We are missing three of our starters and it is very frustrating.'' One side drama was Leslie's play and mysterious postgame comments. She rebounded from one of her worst performances as a Spark, when she had just seven points and one rebound in the loss to Houston. Sparks coach Michael Cooper ``She played a lot better,'' Cooper said. ``She is a superstar, and we expect her to play at a high level every night. Her performance all of last year is what we expect. We didn't get that against Houston. We got it tonight.'' When Leslie was interviewed, she mentioned that she might not be 100-percent healthy. She played in only one of the three practices this week because she said she's suffering from fatigue. She said doctors don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. the cause. When asked if the fatigue was serious, she was vague. ``We don't know what is wrong with me,'' Leslie said. ``Medically speaking, there is nothing I can tell you that is wrong with me. I felt a lot better today.'' |
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