SPARKS TONIGHT

at Detroit, 4 PST, ESPN2

Site -- The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Radio -- 1150 (7 p.m.).

Records -- Sparks 13-10, Shock 16-8.

Record vs. Shock -- 1-0.

Update -- Sparks rookie Candace Parker hasn’t had a break from competitive basketball since October, but she continues to pile up big minutes, playing 42 in a 75-72 overtime loss Saturday against Houston. She has played fewer than 34 minutes only twice in the last 10 games. The Sparks could fall into a tie for fourth in the Western Conference with a loss to the Shock and a win by Sacramento in Atlanta, which has the league’s worst record (3-21). The Sparks should get a lift in the backcourt with the return of guard Temeka Johnson, who sat out the last six games to attend to family health issues. The Shock suffered its first home loss of the season Sunday, 88-85 to Sacramento.

-- Dan Arritt