Monarchs' point guard Ticha Penicheiro left the game with a severe charley horse after getting kneed in the thigh. (Robert C. Mora/WNBA Photos)

Lisa Leslie scored 12 of her 22 points during a decisive second-half burst as the Sparks overcame a 13-point deficit en route to a 71-58 victory over Sacramento in the West First Round.

Playing without injured All-Star center Yolanda Griffith for a fourth straight game, the Monarchs held Los Angeles to 26 percent (9-of-35) shooting in the first half and took a 32-21 lead at the break with the help of 12 points from Griffith's replacement, Tangela Smith.

But Leslie and the Sparks took control, outscoring Sacramento 17-6 to start the second half, then opening a 49-42 cushion with 13:52 to play. Los Angeles, which averaged 76.5 points per game during the regular season, finished a respectable 40 percent (30-of-74) from the floor and netted 22 points off 21 turnovers.

"First of all, I am very proud of the effort that the team showed in the second half," Los Angeles coach Orlando Woolridge said. "The thing about the first half is that I think we were just nervous about being in the playoffs."

"I am very excited," Leslie added. "Orlando got on us at halftime which I think really helped us out. Second half we came out and wanted to play with a lot of heart and I know we did that."

Gordana Grubin collected 13 points and a career-high nine assists and Mwadi Mabika scored all of her 12 points over the final 20 minutes for the Sparks. Los Angeles begins the best-of-three conference finals Thursday when it hosts two-time defending champion Houston.

Ruthie Bolton-Holifield tallied 15 points and Smith added 14 for Sacramento, which also was hindered by injuries to starters Ticha Penicheiro and Kedra Holland-Corn during the game.

Gordana Grubin had a career-high nine assists to go with her 13 points. (Robert C. Mora/WNBA Photos)

"Ticha's our point guard, Kedra was keeping the ball up," Sacramento coach Sonny Allen said. "Yolanda, our leading scorer, rebounder and assist person, is out. With all three of them sitting on the bench was not the way to play a (playoff game)."

The Monarchs shot 35 percent (23-of-66) and suffered their fourth straight loss without Griffith, who was visibly upset watching the second-half collapse from the bench.

"It didn't matter if I played," Griffith said. "Everybody on the team stepped up. But to lose two more starters hurt us a little more."

DeLisha Milton had 10 points, seven assists and a career-high five blocked shots for Los Angeles, which held a 37-36 advantage on the boards.

"Coach told us at halftime that they were using us like little mops," Milton said. "They wanted to win more than we did and that it looked like we were already making our flight arrangements to go home."

Leslie was 8-of-17 from the field, 6-of-7 at the line and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Sparks, who recorded the first playoff win in franchise history.