Sore Sun

The Sun practiced Tuesday for the last time in Connecticut this week before leaving for Los Angeles, where they'll practice Thursday and play the Sparks at 10:30 p.m. (East Coast time) on Friday.

That said, the Sun are nursing some injuries. Kara Lawson sat out at least the 45-minute portion of the practice that was open to the media to rest her dislocated shoulder. She played 28 minutes Sunday two nights after suffering the injury, and coach Mike Thibault said the plan was to save her from contract leading up to Friday's game.

Coincidentally, Sparks star Candace Parker also dislocated her shoulder and is scheduled to undergo tests this week.

Sandrine Gruda said Tuesday she's also playing through a groin injury she suffered last Friday against Indiana, though she scored 12 points that night, and had eight points and five rebounds in 22 minutes Sunday. She is fully expected to play Friday.

Tina Charles, meanwhile, had to sit out roughly the last 20 minutes of Tuesday's practice after she caught a pass from DeMya Walker in the face, more specifically between her eye and nose.

"I think it's more her eye than her nose," Thibault said. "You gotta catch things in self-defense. We tell them to throw it (the pass) at their noise.

"You learn to put your hands up," he added with a laugh. "If you don't want to catch the ball there, you're asking for trouble."