Not much drama left in the reg-season West? Don't tell the Sparks: mathematically eliminated already, L.A. struggled to give home fans a win behind Christi Thomas' 18 points.

Instead, L.A. lost in OT to the Silver Stars, who have both Hammon and VJ back and perhaps even healthy. "Vickie Johnson played big," said coach Hughes, whose team remains a half-game back of Phoenix for the top seed in the West.

The Sparks fall to 0-6 in one-possession or OT games since July 1: it's like they've switched karmic places, this year, with the Stars.