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Sky-Mystics Preview

Jul 22, 2009 - 10:29 PM By DAN PIERINGER STATS Writer

Chicago (8-8) at Washington (7-7), 7:00 p.m. EDT

The Chicago Sky are on pace for the best finish and first playoff appearance in their brief history. Heading into the All-Star break with another performance like their last one, however, might dampen some of their optimism.

The Sky look to bounce back from a disheartening defeat and move back to .500 as they visit the Washington Mystics in each team's first-half finale Thursday night.

Chicago (8-9) has ridden All-Star starters Candice Dupree and Sylvia Fowles and reserve Jia Perkins to a relatively strong first half for a franchise that's finished each of its first three seasons with a losing record.

The Sky, though, didn't look like contenders in the fourth quarter Wednesday. They led by eight after three periods before getting outscored 29-14 over the final 10 minutes of a 77-70 home loss to New York.

That was the latest disappointment in a rough stretch for Chicago, which has dropped six of eight in July after going 6-3 in June.

Washington (7-7) capitalized on Chicago's loss Wednesday, passing the Sky for third place in the Eastern Conference. The Mystics, though, have had their own struggles lately, losing six of nine following a 4-1 start.

Washington committed 20 turnovers in an 82-70 home loss to first-place Indiana on Tuesday night.

"We knew that they were a good defensive team, we knew they were going to go for steals," said Lindsey Harding, who led the Mystics with 17 points but also turned the ball over seven times. "We talked about shortening up our passes a lot. The times we did, we got open shots and other times we got lazy."

The Mystics and Sky have split their first two meetings this season. Washington won 81-72 at home June 20 behind a season-high 31 points from Alana Beard, who'll start alongside Dupree and Fowles in Saturday's All-Star game.

"She's a talent," Sky rookie Kristi Toliver said of Beard after that game. "She's established herself in this league and today was no different. She has length, athleticism, and she did a terrific job of getting to the basket tonight."

One week after these teams' first meeting, Dupree had 23 points and seven rebounds to lead Chicago to a 68-63 home win over Washington.

Dupree, averaging 15.3 points and shooting 45.9 percent from the field, has been held to 10.7 points and 30.3 percent shooting (10 for 33) in the Sky's last three losses.