Preview: With two games left, the Lynx are tied with Los Angeles and San Antonio at 12-20 for third place in the Western Conference. If the three finish tied, the Lynx lose the tiebreaker to both teams and miss the playoffs. Los Angeles, which is 3-0 vs. the Lynx this season, clinches a playoff spot with a victory Friday.
Players to watch: Lynx guard Seimone Augustus needs to find her shooting touch. She has failed to reach 10 points in three of her past four games, and the Lynx have lost all three of those games. She was 2-for-18 from the field in a 68-64 loss to Seattle on Tuesday. ... That same night, Sparks forward Tina Thompson scored 33 points in L.A.'s 90-84 loss to Phoenix. The Lynx know all about Thompson. Her 17-foot jumper at the buzzer beat the Lynx 78-77 on Aug. 12 at Target Center.
Numbers: The Sparks' Ticha Penicheiro leads the WNBA with 6.67 assists per game. Lynx guard Lindsay Whalen is third in that category at 5.64.
