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Shock-Mercury Preview

Jul 17, 2009 - 5:53 PM By DAN PIERINGER STATS Writer

Detroit (4-7) at Phoenix (11-4), 10:00 p.m. EDT

The Phoenix Mercury have ridden Diana Taurasi and the most prolific offense in the WNBA to five straight wins and the top of the Western Conference.

Their winning streak and sole possession of first place could be in jeopardy with Taurasi unavailable for the next two games.

The league's leading scorer will begin serving a two-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team Saturday night when the Mercury host the Detroit Shock in a matchup of the WNBA's last two champions.

Phoenix (11-4) leads the league with 93.2 points per game, more than 10.0 higher than any other club second-best. It's ridden the league's most productive offense to a two-game lead atop the West.

That success is largely due to Taurasi, a three-time All-Star who's averaging a league-best 20.7 points per game. She led six Phoenix players in double figures with 22 points in a 100-81 win over Sacramento on Wednesday, putting the Mercury in position to win six straight for the first time since a nine-game run that included part of the playoffs during their 2007 championship drive.

Taurasi, though, won't be able to help the team extend its current streak. In a release Thursday, the team said it had suspended its star guard two games for conduct detrimental to the team.

Taurasi was cited for drunk driving July 2 and faces three charges, including extreme DUI. A Phoenix police report released Tuesday shows her blood-alcohol level was 0.17 percent, more than twice the Arizona legal limit of 0.08.

"I am deeply sorry and embarrassed for causing this distraction for my teammates, the Phoenix Mercury, the WNBA, family and fans," Taurasi said in a statement.

"While I cannot say more with regards to the specifics of the case, I do want to make sure that everyone knows how much I appreciate their support and that I've learned a valuable lesson. I am committed to making sure a lot of good comes from this experience."

Taurasi, who will also miss a home game against Minnesota, will be eligible to return for next Sunday's game against New York to open a five-game road trip.

The Shock (4-7) will try to take advantage of Taurasi's absence and build on their first back-to-back wins of the year.

It's been a disappointing first half of the season for the defending champs, who had coach Bill Laimbeer resign after just three games. However, replacement Rick Mahorn is optimistic Detroit can turn things around after opening its four-game road trip with wins over Connecticut and Seattle.

"It's two quality teams that, to me, are going to be competing for getting into the finals and trying to bring home a championship to each club," Mahorn said after Wednesday's 66-63 victory over the Storm.

Katie Smith scored 16 of her 19 points - including the go-ahead basket with 1:01 left - in the second half of that game.

"I feel good shooting the ball. It's just that fine line of getting everybody their stuff and you finding ways to be aggressive and knock down shots," said Smith, who went 6 for 11 from the floor, including 5 for 7 after the break.

The Shock won both games against the Mercury last season after losing to them in five games in the 2007 finals.