DETROIT -- The Detroit Shock need another remarkable turnaround.

COMPLETE FINALS COVERAGE

To check out ESPN.com's complete WNBA Finals coverage, check out the links below: Game 1: L.A. 75, Detroit 63 L.A. took advantage of Detroit's shooting woes to build the second-largest halftime lead in finals history and take a 1-0 lead in the series. Lieberman: Nothing but nerves Detroit's nerves, and some great defense from Mwadi Mabika, led to an L.A. rout in Game 1 of the finals. Voepel: Don't underestimate Dixon Guard Tamecka Dixon is a critical, if sometimes overlooked, cog who has been essential to two championships for Los Angeles. Lieberman: Finals preview Detroit is athletic and talented enough to threaten L.A.'s quest for a threepeat. Voepel: Deflecting the spotlight Bill Laimbeer and Michael Cooper are stealing the headlines. But they know this series really belongs to the players. Kreidler: An unlikely reunion What would have been the odds 14 years ago that Bill Laimbeer and Michael Cooper would square off again as coaches of WNBA teams? Cash vs. Leslie MVP candidates Swin Cash of Detroit and L.A.'s Lisa Leslie go head-to-head to lead their teams into the finals.

The Shock saved their franchise with an incredible reversal this season, finishing with a league-best record after just nine wins a year ago.

Detroit needs a victory in Game 2 of the WNBA Finals on Sunday to extend the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Sparks to a decisive third game.

The Sparks built a 21-point first-half lead on their way to a 75-63 victory and a 1-0 lead Friday night. The second game of the best-of-three final is at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

The Shock will host Game 3 on Tuesday, if necessary

"We have the luxury of saying we have two games, but we don't want to do that,'' Los Angeles coach Michael Cooper said. "We want to take care of it and, if we can, finish it off. They're thinking one game at a time, so I think composure is our biggest weapon.''

Detroit coach Bill Laimbeer is still cocky and confident about his team's chances.

"We're just as good as them,'' he said. "We have big players, we have strong players. We can crash the boards, we can shoot.''

The Shock didn't shoot well Friday, however.

Detroit made just 29 percent of its shots, the lowest in the history of the finals, and struggled with turnovers. The Sparks scored 20 points off Detroit's 12 first-half turnovers.

"I'd love to say it was that no one could buy a basket, but that's probably not true,'' Laimbeer said Saturday. "It happens to us on occasion. And the fact that it happened in the finals magnifies the situation a little bit more, so everybody wants to look more for reasons why.

"We had all the shots that we normally would get. The execution of the shots and the finish of our post play, that was the biggest fundamental problem that we had yesterday, is that we didn't finish our post play.''

Lisa Leslie led the Sparks with 23 points, and Nikki Teasley matched her own finals record with 11 assists.

"I think it's definitely important for us to come out and play a good ballgame because we obviously would like to finish,'' Leslie said. "We don't anticipate losing, but we know that their backs are against the wall and at times that's when you're the most dangerous.''

	Lisa Leslie and L.A. cruised to victory Friday as Detroit couldn't overcome its many miscues and poor shooting.

Detroit's Swin Cash scored 16 points, and Deanna Nolan had 15 despite a back bruise. Cheryl Ford, the WNBA's rookie of the year, had 11 points and 12 rebounds.

The Sparks are winless on the road in the playoffs this year and Laimbeer is counting on fan support to give Detroit an edge.

"We know we're going home to a tremendous crowd, our biggest crowd we've had in a long time,'' he said. "They've been very supportive of us all year long and it's going to be fun. It's going to be an atmosphere that only a few of them have experienced in their life.''

Shock president Tom Wilson credits Laimbeer's presence with saving the franchise.

Detroit was a league-worst 9-23 in 2002, a record that, coupled with lackluster attendance, led to speculation the team would move or fold.

With Laimbeer's leadership, and a revamped lineup, the Shock had the WNBA's best record (25-9) in the regular season and made the playoffs for first time since 1999.

But Cash is not satisfied.

"This series is far from over,'' she said. "We feel good with our chances of going back home and getting two.''