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Fever-Sky Preview

Jul 9, 2009 - 5:57 PM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Indiana (8-2) at Chicago (6-6), 8:30 p.m. EDT

Led by a suffocating defense featuring Tammy Sutton-Brown in the middle, the Indiana Fever have been shutting down opponents en route to the WNBA's best record.

The 6-foot-4 center is also proving her play on the offensive end is vital to the team's success.

Sutton-Brown looks to build on her best game of the season and help the Fever extend their franchise-record winning streak to nine Friday night when they visit the slumping Chicago Sky, who try to avoid a fourth straight loss.

Indiana's winning streak appeared to be in jeopardy Sunday as it trailed Atlanta by one at the start of the fourth quarter, but then Sutton-Brown took over.

The two-time All-Star finished with a season-high 22 points - including seven during an 8-0 run early in the fourth - to help lead Indiana to a 78-74 victory. She also made all eight of her free throws and grabbed nine rebounds as the Fever avenged a season-opening 87-86 double-overtime loss to the Dream on June 6. Indiana (8-2) fell 96-74 to Minnesota the following day but has since reeled off eight wins in a row.

"If she plays like that, it takes pressure off everybody," said forward Tamika Catchings, who added 19 points, nine rebounds and six steals Sunday. "When she does her job down low, she's able to get easy baskets for herself and the rest of the team."

Indiana normally runs its offense through Catchings and Katie Douglas while Sutton-Brown anchors a defense that allows a league-low 69.6 points per game. The eight-year veteran, though, is getting more involved with the ball.

Sutton-Brown, who averages 10.4 points, scored 14 and had season highs of 14 rebounds and five blocks in last Thursday's 67-53 win over Connecticut. She was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week on Monday.

"Tammy has been playing phenomenal the last couple games, not just (Sunday)," Catchings said. "It seems like she's getting fire in her. She needs to play like that every game."

Sutton-Brown and the Fever look to take advantage of playing a Sky team that not only struggles on defense but is also expected to be without star center Sylvia Fowles (sore right knee) for a second straight game.

Chicago (6-6) had another poor defensive showing in Wednesday's 90-70 loss to Phoenix, falling behind 22-2 just over four minutes into the game. The Sky, who are allowing an average of 86.0 points on 50.0 percent shooting during their three-game losing streak, hope to snap their skid with a return to Chicago, where they're 5-0.

Forward Candice Dupree, who scored 22 points Wednesday, averaged 19.7 on 66.7 percent shooting (26 of 39) and grabbed 9.0 boards in three games versus the Fever last season.

Sutton-Brown averaged 11.3 points and 9.7 rebounds in those games as the Fever won twice, improving to 8-3 all-time in the series.

These teams meet again Wednesday in Indiana.