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Fever-Shock Preview

Sep 3, 2009 - 6:40 PM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Indiana (20-9) at Detroit (14-15), 7:30 p.m. EDT

The struggling Indiana Fever have already locked up the top spot in the Eastern Conference, but they'd probably rather be playing their best basketball going into the postseason.

That's what the Detroit Shock are doing as they try to secure a chance to defend their WNBA title, and the Fever could be looking at a potential first-round opponent when the teams meet Friday night at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Indiana (20-9) has dropped four of its last five games and was without leading scorer Katie Douglas for its most recent game, a 106-90 home loss to Phoenix on Wednesday.

With Douglas out for precautionary reasons due to a sprained ankle, Tamika Catchings had 27 points, 12 rebounds and five assists, but the Fever allowed a season high in points. They have been one of the best defensive teams in the league all year, allowing an average of 73.3.

"You have to play with who you have," Catchings said. "Everyone who comes in has to make a difference. Our defensive intensity has to be 24-7. All players who come in have to have that mentality."

The Shock (14-15) have had a winning mindset recently, winning five of six as they try to reach the playoffs for the seventh straight season. They're currently in playoff position in the East, but they remain in a tight race with Washington, Chicago and Connecticut for the final two spots.

Detroit has also been playing without one of its top scorers, with Katie Smith missing the last two games with a back problem. Cheryl Ford (22 points) and Deanna Nolan (21) picked up the slack in Tuesday's 101-99 win over the Mercury.

While Smith's status is unclear, Ford's health is a positive after she has dealt with recent knee problems.

"I didn't have any pain at all (Tuesday)," Ford said. "This is the best I've been all year."

Indiana is Detroit's final regular-season opponent that currently has a winning record, and three of the team's final five games are at home, setting up a seemingly manageable path to the postseason.

"We want to get to the playoffs and defend our championship and the only way to do that is to win our home-court games," Ford told the Shock's official Web site.

The Shock eliminated Indiana from last year's playoffs in three games, but they haven't beaten the Fever in three meetings this year. They lost 66-54 at home on June 19, during their ugly 1-5 start, and were blown out 82-59 at Indiana on Aug. 15 in the most recent matchup.

Rookie Shavonte Zellous was the only Detroit player who scored in double figures in that game, totaling 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting. Zellous has scored at least 10 points in each of her last 11 games.