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Mystics-Fever Preview

Sep 5, 2009 - 4:45 PM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Washington (15-16) at Indiana (20-10), 4:00 p.m. EDT

The Indiana Fever don't want to head into the postseason with three straight home losses.

They'll try to finish with a perfect record at home against Eastern Conference foes on Sunday when they face the Washington Mystics, who may be without star guard Alana Beard as they try to reach the playoffs.

Indiana (20-10) has already clinched the best record in the East and is trying to beat out West leader Phoenix for home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. The Fever, though, have dropped a season-high three straight overall after a 70-63 overtime loss at Detroit on Friday.

"Everyone is tied up for third and fourth place, so every game matters right now," said Tamika Catchings, who had 14 points and 13 rebounds for Indiana. "It's definitely important for us to get momentum going into the playoffs, but even though we've lost the last couple games, we're learning. That's a positive note."

The Fever will return to Conseco Fieldhouse, where they have lost back-to-back games to Sacramento and Phoenix. Indiana is 10-0 at home against East opponents, including an 85-81 win over Washington (15-16) on July 28 behind Katie Douglas' career-high 34 points.

Douglas, averaging 22.0 points to help the Fever post a 3-0 mark against Mystics this year, has missed the last two games with an ankle injury. Indiana struggled without her Friday, shooting 27.2 percent.

"We miss her 17 or 18 points, but everybody is dealing with injuries," Indiana coach Lin Dunn said. "You can't come into this facility and shoot 27 percent and expect to win.

"We had the chance to, because we got on the boards. We just didn't put the ball in the hole, and one of the things Katie does is put the ball in the hole."

Beard has missed the last two games for Washington with a sprained left ankle, hampering the Mystics' chances of getting to the postseason. Washington fell into a tie with Chicago for the fourth and final playoff spot in the East with a 92-86 road loss to the Sky on Friday.

Matee Ajavon has stepped in nicely while starting in place of Beard. Ajavon scored 16 points in Thursday's 78-67 win over Seattle and had a career-high 32 points Friday.

"I was aggressive, trying to lift my team any way I could," she said Friday. "Fortunately, the ball was going in tonight."

Washington has lost five of six on the road.

The Mystics will have to try to contain Catchings, averaging 20.8 points and 9.8 rebounds over her last four games. She is averaging 20.7 points and 8.3 boards against Washington this year.