The Sparks have lost nine of their past 11 games, but both teams are still fighting for a playoff spot with fewer than a dozen games remaining. Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said pregame that the players know what is at stake during the final stretch of the season. AdvertisementAdvertisement AdvertisementThe Sparks (12-20) sit in 10th place, one spot ahead of the Mercury (13-22) and outside of the eight-team playoff cut line, with 12 games remaining. The Sparks had difficulty solving problems caused by the Mercury's zone defense. "It was kind of those one-on-one on the inside before they went zone," Hamby said.