Sparks Clang Way to a Win

Staples Center was a tough place to be Friday night if you were a rim.

Don’t be fooled by the 85-83 final score in the Sparks’ victory against Phoenix. Both teams put the “work” in workmanlike, and despite the 54 total fouls called on the teams, it was the baskets that took a beating. The Sparks shot 37.3%; Phoenix clanked along at 41.3%.

Still the Sparks (12-4), who had 18 points off the bench from Chamique Holdsclaw and 16 points from Lisa Leslie, pushed their slim lead over Houston in the Western Conference back up to 1 1/2 games. The Mercury (6-8), which had won six of nine before Friday, missed a chance to continue to close the gap between it and fourth-place Seattle.

“The important thing was getting the win after a loss the other night,” Sparks Coach Joe Bryant said. “Both teams couldn’t make shots early ... but we played good defense, especially in the first half when we held them to 17-point quarters. They’re a high-scoring team.”

So are the Sparks, on most nights.

“We’ll always take a win. But there were situations that we could learn from,” said Temeka Johnson, who had only two assists but did have four steals. “We need to get better on our defense. Also, we need to focus on us and not worry about what other people are going to think, say or call.

“We are going to keep playing, and continue to grow together.”

But because no one had a particularly hot hand Friday -- Holdsclaw was the most effective, making six of 13 shots -- help had to come from all quarters.

A healthy dose came from reserve guard Lisa Willis. The former UCLA standout had not played in the team’s last six games and eight of the last nine. But she scored 10 points in 21 minutes Friday, including two critical three-pointers in the fourth quarter as the Sparks were expanding their 61-56 third-quarter lead to 67-60.

“I have had to wait; we have been winning and we have an all-star caliber team,” Willis said. “I’ve been trying to stay ready and be ready when a chance came. I was glad I was able to contribute tonight.”

Phoenix’s Cappie Pondexter led all scorers with 21 points, but nine of those came in the final two minutes as the Mercury was whittling down a 10-point deficit. Pondexter was five for 19. Diana Taurasi, the league’s leading scorer, scored 19 points, making six of 15 shots.