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Shock-Sky Preview

Sep 11, 2009 - 9:59 PM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Detroit (17-16) at Chicago (16-17), 8:00 p.m. EDT

If the Chicago Sky fail to reach the playoffs, they can look to their struggles against the Detroit Shock as a big reason why.

Detroit can wrap up a playoff spot of its own by completing a season sweep of Chicago on Saturday when the teams meet at the UIC Pavilion.

The Shock (17-16) and Sky (16-17) close the regular season Saturday, although Chicago might have to wait until Sunday to find out its postseason fate whereas Detroit can qualify with a win in this game.

Third-place Detroit has a one-game lead over the Sky, who are battling Washington and Connecticut for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Chicago split its season series with the Mystics and won two of three against the Sun. Both teams play Sunday.

Chicago could certainly improve its chances for the franchise's first playoff berth with a win Saturday, although it has gone 0-3 against Detroit this year. The Sky fell to 3-11 all-time against the Shock with an 84-75 loss Sunday.

That is Chicago's only defeat in three games this month after losing four of five to close August. Plus, the Sky have won three in a row at home.

They bounced back from Sunday's loss with an 86-79 win over conference-leading Indiana on Thursday. Kristi Toliver scored 19 points off the bench while Candice Dupree and Mistie Bass each added 15 for the Sky, whose reserves outscored Indiana's 37-22.

"Anytime you can get that kind of contribution from the bench and then your starters come along with finish the game for you, that's a huge thing," Chicago coach Steven Key said. "It's not easy to go out and win when you have to. I thought our team did a great job going out against the league leader and showing them that we're a playoff team."

Toliver, a rookie averaging 7.8 points this season, has scored 19 or more in three of the last five games.

While the Sky could fall short of the playoffs, Detroit can look to a win over Chicago last month as the start to its postseason run.

After a three-game skid in mid-August dropped their record to 9-14, the Shock beat the Sky 76-67 on Aug. 22 to spark their current 7-2 stretch. Detroit, which has won three WNBA championships in the last six seasons, was in sixth place at the time of that victory over Chicago.

The Shock are coming off a 94-87 overtime win over New York on Thursday. Detroit blew a 14-point third-quarter lead and the last-place Liberty tied the game with six seconds remaining. Deanna Nolan scored the first six points of overtime to give Detroit the lead for good.

"That's exactly how we are - it's never simple," said Nolan, who finished with 34 points.

The Shock also blew a five-point lead with 2:14 to play Wednesday in a 75-72 loss to Minnesota.

"We've got a lot of things to fix if we want to do anything in the playoffs," coach Rick Mahorn said.