Up next for Sparks: Tuesday vs. Phoenix

Sparks tonight

VS. PHOENIX

When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: Staples Center.

On the air: Prime Ticket.

Records: Sparks 12-19, Mercury 14-17.

Record vs. Mercury: 1-3.

Update: Tina Thompson averaged 20.3 points and 10.7 rebounds last week while helping the Sparks win two of their last three games and inch closer to securing a playoff spot. The Sparks are currently in a three-way tie for third place in the Western Conference with the San Antonio Silver Stars and the Minnesota Lynx — and only the top four teams in each conference advance to the playoffs. In their three remaining regular-season games, the Sparks will face No. 2 Phoenix, Minnesota and No. 1 Seattle. The Mercury is led by Diana Taurasi, who’s averaging 22.9 points a game. Phoenix ousted the Sparks in the Western Conference finals last season, and this year three of the teams’ four meetings were decided by one point.

— Melissa Rohlin