SPARKS TODAY

vs. Portland, 12:30

Site--Staples Center.

Radio--KPLS (830).

Records--Sparks 18-4; Fire 14-9.

Record vs. Fire--2-0.

Update--If the playoffs began today this would be a first-round matchup, which is why the game is important to Portland. The Fire is the hot team, winning 10 of its last 11 games. But Portland is 1-7 lifetime against the Sparks, and has lost the last five meetings between the teams. Ukari Figgs continues to make the draft-day trade between Portland and Los Angeles look good for the Fire, averaging 9.4 points and 3.5 assists. Figgs is also the WNBA’s top free-throw shooter (.927). Spark forward Latasha Byears, sidelined the last two games because of a stress fracture in her right knee, is day-to-day.

Tickets--(877) 962-2849 or (213) 480-3232.