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Shock-Sky Preview

Aug 21, 2009 - 8:40 PM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Detroit (9-14) at Chicago (13-13), 8:00 p.m. EDT

The Chicago Sky's play against the Detroit Shock will go a long way toward determining whether they earn the first playoff berth in franchise history.

The Sky host the Shock on Saturday night in the first of three matchups over the season's final three weeks.

After posting losing records in its first three years, Chicago (13-13) is in a tight race for the final postseason berth in the Eastern Conference. The Sky have eight games left and will look to take advantage of three against disappointing Detroit (9-14).

The Sky have won five of eight and haven't dropped back-to-back games in a month. The Shock have lost three in a row and will be trying to avoid matching their longest skid of the season.

Chicago, however, might not have center Sylvia Fowles (sprained right ankle) on Saturday. She sat out Tuesday night's 106-99 defeat to Phoenix, her team's third loss in 12 home games.

The Sky are 0-6 without the 6-foot-6 Fowles in the lineup, giving up 88.5 points per game. In her previous 11 contests, opponents averaged 74.2 points.

Fowles, who missed five games last month with knee and shoulder problems, is second in the WNBA with 8.6 rebounds a contest and sixth with 1.6 blocks per game.

She had a career-best 18 boards, a season high-tying four blocks and 10 points in Chicago's 64-58 loss at Detroit on Aug. 9.

"You never want to play without Sylvia, that is for sure," Sky coach Steve Key said. "As soon as she is healthy, we will get her back in the lineup."

Shyra Ely scored a career-high 26 points in her place Tuesday and reserve Kristi Toliver added 22, but the Mercury pulled away with a 9-2 run in the final two minutes.

Like the Sky, the Shock couldn't close out their previous opponent. They rallied from a 17-point halftime deficit Tuesday night to tie Seattle but suffered a 79-75 loss.

"We have to play four quarters like we played the last two quarters," guard Deanna Nolan said. "We know we've still got a chance, but there are only 11 games left. We've got to win at least nine to give ourselves a shot."

Nolan, averaging a team-best 15.3 points, scored a season-high 29 while rookie reserve guard Shavonte Zellous added 15.

Zellous has averaged 15.2 points in her last five games, but starters Katie Smith and Alexis Hornbuckle have scored a combined 15 on 4-of-24 shooting in the past two losses.

The Shock, 4-8 on the road, are 3-2 in Chicago but suffered both of the losses last season.

Candice Dupree, Chicago's leading scorer at 15.1 points a game, averaged 21.0 in the three victories. She scored a team-high 16 in the Aug. 9 defeat.