Sparks 87, Lynx 83

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Lisa Leslie is back and the Los Angeles Sparks are ready to make their run.

Leslie scored 19 points in her return after four weeks on the injured list as the Los Angeles Sparks beat the Minnesota Lynx 87-83 Thursday.

``When we're all together we can compete and win, but when pieces are missing its tough,'' Leslie said.

The Sparks were 4-7 during Leslie's 11-game absence after she bruised her right knee in the WNBA All-Star game.

``I think we were missing our leadership and people were forced to play different positions,'' Leslie said. ``But it was a good learning experience for all of us. We have two starting teams now.''

It was the 15th straight win for Los Angeles against Minnesota.

All-Star forward DeLisha Milton, also playing for the first time since injured with a left-ankle injury, added 21 points and 11 rebounds. Nikki Teasley had 15 points and 11 assists.

``It's a great feeling having the group together, back as a unit,'' Milton said. ``From a spiritual and emotional standpoint we feel a level of comfort.''

``Now that we got our team healthy we want to go into the playoffs on a run not a limp,'' said Sparks coach Michael Cooper, who was particularly impressed with the way Teasley managed the game and fed her teammates.

``Lady Magic is what I like to call her,'' Cooper said. ``She knows when to get the other players off and when to step up and take her shot.''

Svetlana Abrosimova scored 15 points and Katie Smith added 14 for Minnesota, which had its club-record winning streak at home snapped at seven games. The Lynx had 21 turnovers leading to 17 Sparks' points.

With four games remaining, the Lynx magic number to make their first playoff experience is stuck at four.

``It makes it difficult, not impossible,'' said Minnesota coach Suzie McConnell Serio. ``We have to come back strong from this.''

``We have to take better care of the basketball, no doubt,'' she added.

The Sparks trailed 54-53 when Leslie received her fifth personal foul with just over 15 minutes remaining. By the time she returned, Los Angeles had a 75-50 lead at the five-minute mark.

Milton led the way with Leslie on the bench, scoring six points during the stretch. Leslie returned to score six straight points and give the Sparks an 81-72 lead with 2:40 left.

The Lynx scored the next six points to close within 81-78 with 55 seconds left. Tamika Williams' putback with 14 seconds left brought Minnesota within 85-83, but Tamecka Dixon's two free throws with 8.6 seconds left sealed the Sparks win.

``It always comes down to the last minute with them,'' Williams said. ``It's just an experienced team.''

Leslie scored seven of her team's first 13 points, as Los Angeles went ahead 13-7. But the Lynx came back as Theresa Edwards made her first three 3-point attempts, and the Lynx made five of their first seven 3-point tries, to take a 20-19 lead midway through the first half.

Minnesota did not make a two-point shot until Sheri Sam's jumper with 7:56 remaining. As a team they shot 8-for-13 from behind the arc to take a 43-41 halftime lead.

Sam's 3-pointer with 6:30 left in the first half gave her 2,000 points for her career. She is the 25th WNBA player to reach that mark.

Los Angeles made a number of roster moves, placing center Chandra Johnson on the injured list, activating Milton from the injured list and waiving former Lynx guard Lynn Pride.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)