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BOX SCORE
PHOENIX (AP) -- Lisa Leslie knew the Los Angeles Sparks were ready for the playoffs.
|  | | Lisa Leslie of the Sparks, right, tries to decode Jennifer Gillom's defense. |
Leslie had 20 points and 11 rebounds as the Sparks beat the Phoenix Mercury 86-71 in Game 1 of their Western Conference series Friday night.
"Everybody on our team is so focused right now, it's amazing what we can do," Leslie said. "It was pretty much in evidence right there. It's amazing what the playoffs can do for you. I mean, just our demeanor, everybody's attitude is very serious, very focused."
DeLisha Milton scored 13 of her 19 points in the first half, and the Sparks raced to a 19-point lead.
"That's something we've been looking for all season long,"
Milton said. "We've shown ourselves to be a team that comes out
and starts slow sometimes, and that's something we wanted to get
out of. It's plagued us since last season."
Mwadi Mabika had 15 points and Tamecka Dixon 14 for the Sparks,
who won for the 13th time in 14 games.
Brandy Reed led the Mercury with 17 points, Bridget Pettis had
14 -- all in the final 7:46 -- and Michelle Griffiths added 13.
Game 2 of the best-of-three first-round series is Sunday in Los Angeles, where the Mercury have lost six straight.
Los Angeles led 43-24 at halftime, and withstood a 10-3 surge
that got the Mercury within 51-40 on a 3-pointer by Reed 7:10 into
the second half.
Ukari Figgs hit a jumper, Leslie made a putback and Mabika
scored on a fast break during a 1:08 spurt, and the Sparks extended
their lead to 57-40 with 11:17 to play. Phoenix never got closer
than 14 points again.
"Lisa Leslie is a superstar, and she's going to get her points
and her rebounds and be a factor in the game," Reed said.
"DeLisha Milton is going to be a factor in the game. But we can't
let the other players get off and hit clutch shots."
The Sparks swept the Mercury this season, and their dominance
was apparent from the start in the first-ever playoff game between
the teams.
The Sparks, who never trailed, took a 33-16 lead when Leslie
made a putback with 7:42 to play in the first half.
Jennifer Gillom went to the foul line four seconds later and
made a free throw. She missed the second, but got her own rebound
and made a layup, and the Mercury's Tonya Edwards made a free throw
with 6:02 remaining, cutting Los Angeles' lead to 33-20.
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ALSO SEE
WNBA Scoreboard
WNBA playoff schedule
RECAPS
Orlando 62
Cleveland 55
Los Angeles 86
Phoenix 71
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Tamecka Dixon grabs the rebounds and makes the hoop.
avi: 709 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Delisha Milton makes the turn-around jumper.
avi: 615 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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