WNBA: SLUGGISH START, FAST FINISH DEFENSIVE EFFORT LIFTS SPARKS TO WIN VS. SACRAMENTO SPARKS 69, SACRAMENTO 58.

Byline: JUSTIN FRANK Staff Writer

Sparks coach Joe Bryant expected his team to be sluggish after playing 10 of its past 11 games on the road.

In the first few minutes of Wednesday's game against the Sacramento Monarchs, the Sparks seemed to meet Bryant's expectations after missing easy shots in the first quarter.

But the Sparks, behind their dfense, recovered quickly to defeat the defending WNBA champions 69-58 at Staples Center in front of 12,289 fans.

The Sparks held Sacramento to 4-of-21 shooting at the end the first quarter, after which the Sparks led 14-10.

``Offense means nothing,'' Bryant said. ``I expected us to be a little sluggish and we were, but as long as we play defense, we're OK.''

Sparks center Lisa Leslie scored 18 points and had 10 rebounds despite limited playing time in the third quarter because of foul trouble.

Guard Chamique Holdsclaw returned after missing two games with a foot injury and scored nine points in 23 minutes.

Former UCLA standout Lisa Willis, who was the fifth overall pick by the Sparks in the 2006 WNBA draft, scored 10 points in 12 second-half minutes and helped slow down Monarchs sharpshooter Kara Lawson, who scored 16 of her 18 points in the firsthalf before Willis came into the game.

Mwadi Mabika added 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting for the Sparks.

The Sparks (24-9) clinched the top seed in the Western Conference for the playoffs last week and will host the Seattle Storm, Houston Comets or Phoenix Mercury in the first round, which starts Aug. 18.

The Monarchs (20-12), who will be the second seed, are a possible opponent for the Sparks in the conference finals.

``We definitely have a game plan for Sacramento,'' Bryant said. ``Sure, I pay little more attention to what they do now, but we are always making changes on the fly, anyway.''

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The Sparks' Chamique Holdsclaw goes for a layup past Sacramento's Hamechetou Maiga-Ba.

Reed Saxon/Associated Press