Top > Sport > 2004 > September > 2004-09-20

Sparks burn Storm in West showdown

Battling flulike symptoms, the Los Angeles guard scored 21 points and handed out 11 assists, leading the Sparks to an 83-80 victory against Seattle on Saturday night in what might have been a preview of the Western Conference finals.

``I`ve been drinking tea and trying to stay warm,`` Teasley said. ``I`m going to go home, get some rest and be ready for the playoffs.``

The game had no impact on playoff positioning for either team. But both squads played an entertaining, high-intensity game that came down to the final buzzer and closed out the regular season.

``I don`t think you can go in either locker room and say this game has no meaning,`` said Sparks` co-head coach Karleen Thompson. ``We`re in playoff mode and we`re ready to go.``

Los Angeles will be the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference playoffs and Seattle the No. 2.

Teasley led a balanced Los Angeles scoring attack as all five starters tallied at least 12 points. Lisa Leslie added 18 points and Tamecka Dixon had 13 as Los Angeles took the season series, 3-1, and sent the largest crowd in Seattle Storm history -- 14,884 -- home disappointed.

Lauren Jackson led Seattle with 22 points and Sheri Sam added 21.

The Sparks needed every point to avoid overtime as a 3-point attempt by Seattle`s Betty Lennox bounced off the back of the rim as time expired.

``It`s amazing that we played so poorly defensively and we still had a chance to go to overtime,`` Seattle head coach Anne Donovan said. ``It was a great competitive game, but I can`t say we played well defensively.``

Individually, the game was a showdown between the two leading MVP candidates, the Sparks` Leslie and Seattle`s Jackson.

The first half was a wash as role players led the scoring for both teams. But the two superstars stepped up in the second.

Leslie came alive after halftime, scoring 13 points in the first eight minutes to help Los Angeles build a 12-point lead.

Jackson then led the Seattle comeback. She scored 12 points in the final 11 minutes as the Storm chipped away at the lead.

Sue Bird`s 3-pointer pulled Seattle to 81-80 with 23 seconds left. Teasley drilled two free throws with 16 seconds remaining before Lennox` 3-point attempt.

``Everyone stepped up at the time it was needed and we were able to pull this one out,`` Thompson said.

Seattle slowly built a 32-24 first-half lead behind Sam, but managed just two field goals in the final six minutes of the half. Los Angeles took advantage, closing the first half on a 17-4 run to take a 41-36 lead at the break. Mwadi Mabika scored all 12 of her points in the first half and Teasley added 11.

``It was a huge challenge for us to get the win on the road because, obviously, in order to win championships, you have to win on the road,`` Leslie said.