AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -Shavonte Zellous scored 23 points and Deanna Nolan added 22 as the Detroit Shock easily cruised to a 72-56 victory over the Indiana Fever on Wednesday night in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.

The Shock, seeking their fourth straight trip to the WNBA finals, have knocked out the Fever in each of the last three postseasons.

Katie Douglas led Indiana with 16 points, but the Fever couldn't overcome Detroit's edge in rebounds and turnovers.

After trailing the entire first half, the Shock scored the first six points of the third quarter to take their first lead, and expanded the margin to 52-43 going into the fourth.

The Fever cut the margin to four, but Nolan scored the next six points and Zellous added a three-point play to put Detroit ahead 63-50 with 5:09 to play.Mercury 103, Sparks 94

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Diana Taurasi scored 28 points and Phoenix hit 14 3-pointers to hold off the Los Angeles in Game 1 of the West finals.

Playing the fourth quarter with five fouls, Taurasi made 5 of her 6 free throws over the final 1:09 to win the game played at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion on the court named for coach John Wooden and his wife Nell.

The Sparks were forced out of their downtown home arena because of a Britney Spears concert at Staples Center. Game 2 is Friday night in Phoenix.

Penny Taylor added 18 points, Cappie Pondexter 15 and Le'coe Willingham 12 for Phoenix.

Candace Parker led the Sparks with 28 points and 10 rebounds. Tina Thompson added 25 points and Lisa Leslie 19.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.