The timing and situation is ripe for a flat performance from both teams. Phoenix won't have spark plug Diana Taurasi and also could be without star center Brittney Griner and starting guard Rebecca Allen. Los Angeles is off its game of the year, upsetting the Aces at home, 98-93, this past Friday night.

The two teams met at Phoenix on June 28. The Mercury shot 51 percent from the floor and won, 92-78. Taurasi scored 20 points while making 7-of-11 shots from the floor and 5-of-8 3-pointers. Griner made 8-of-12 shots from the field. But now Taurasi has been ruled out with a leg injury. Griner is questionable because of personal reasons and Allen is questionable due to lower back pain.

The Mercury have a short bench. Some of their reserves are horrible shooters. They won't be able to go into a four-guard attack, which they've done before, minus Taurasi and possibly Allen.

The Sparks are third-from-the-bottom in scoring in the WNBA averaging 79 points. They have averaged a tick lower during their last nine games, producing an average of 78.7 points in regulation.

Dearica Hamby is the only Sparks player averaging more than 11 points. The Sparks lack a natural go-to scorer. They eat up a lot of clock by frequently passing the ball in a deliberate style offense.