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Nolan leads Shock past Lynx, 91-83

Aug 1, 2009 - 2:14 AM AUBURN HILLS, Mich.(AP) -- The Detroit Shock still think they can be a playoff team.

Deanna Nolan scored 22 points and reserve Alexis Turnbuckle made a pair of big offensive plays in the final minutes to spur a 91-83 win over Minnesota. It was the first win since the All-Star break for the defending WNBA champs, who struggled in the first half of the season and are sitting in sixth place in the Eastern Conference.

Nolan, who also had six assists, said the team still believes it can get back to the playoffs, even though it ended the night closer to last place in the Eastern Conference than the top.

"There's still 19 games left," she said. There's plenty of time for us to get on a roll and start playing the kind of basketball that's going to make us a playoff team."

The Lynx made three straight 3-pointers to cut Detroit's lead to 72-71 with four minutes to play, but Hornbuckle ended the rally by converting a three-point play.

She made a 3-pointer a minute later and Minnesota never threatened again.

"I just want to stay in the game and do whatever I can," said Hornbuckle, who scored all nine points in the final period. "The coaches keep saying shoot if you've got a look, so I took it."

Coach Rick Mahorn was glad she did.

"It was a great spark," he said of the two big baskets. "It helped a lot because we had an offensive drought and that stopped it."

Taj McWilliams had 17 points and Shavonte Zellous came off the bench to add 15. Cheryl Ford hd 12 points and nine rebounds for Detroit (6-9), which played its first game since visiting President Barack Obama at the White House.

Minnesota missed its first 11 shots and trailed by as many as 11 points in the first half, but closed the second quarter on a 9-3 run to cut Detroit's lead to 41-39 at intermission.

"We picked it up, but we had to waste too much energy getting back into the game," Lynx coach Jennifer Gillom said. "That is still a very good team, and they were rested tonight."

Charde Houston and Rashanda McCants each scored 14 points and Quanitra Hollingsworth added 12 for Minnesota (10-9), which lost its second straight game.