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Dream-Sky Preview

Jun 15, 2010 - 1:55 AM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Atlanta (8-3) at Chicago (4-6), 8:00 p.m. EDT

The Chicago Sky have the worst record in the Eastern Conference, but they have beaten both first-place teams in the WNBA. One of those wins came against the East-leading Atlanta Dream.

The Sky look to salvage a split of a four-game homestand and continue their mastery of the Dream on Tuesday night.

Chicago (4-6) is one the most difficult teams in the league to figure. The Sky have handed West-leading Seattle its only loss and Atlanta (8-3) its lone loss at home, but have also fallen twice to lowly New York.

Sylvia Fowles had 19 points and nine rebounds and Shameka Christon added 13 points as Chicago never trailed after the first quarter of an 80-70 victory at Atlanta on June 4.

The Sky were in the midst of a four-game winning streak at that time, and that remains their lone win in seven games against the East. Chicago enters this rematch having been blown out in consecutive home games, falling 85-70 to New York last Tuesday and 95-78 to Washington on Friday.

Fowles scored a team-high 23 points and Jia Perkins had a season-high 19 against the Mystics. The problem was on the other end where the Sky turned in their worst defensive performance of the season, allowing the Mystics to shoot 61.7 percent.

"We were right in the game, even late in the fourth quarter, but we started shooting for the home run," coach Steve Key told the Sky's official website. "We've got to be smarter than that, we have to take the emotional portion out of the game and play smarter basketball."

There may be cause for optimism Tuesday. Chicago is 6-1 all-time against Atlanta, including 3-0 at home. Also encouraging, Perkins turned in her best effort of the season Friday, making 7 of 13 shots.

"It's not just about offensively, it's about me getting in a groove," Perkins said. "I think tonight I was able get a good feel for the game."

Perkins played a key role in the first meeting with Atlanta, helping hold Angel McCoughtry to a season-low 11 points. The league's second-leading scorer at 20.8 points per game, McCoughtry grew frustrated and was benched during stretches of that contest.

The Dream superstar scored 23 points in Sunday's 90-83 home win over San Antonio. Atlanta hit the 90-point mark for the fourth time, and is averaging an East-leading 83.5.

"We ran and got transition baskets," McCoughtry said. "We knew they'd get a little tired. People keep trying to stop us from running, but they can't if we play good defense and get turnovers."