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Lynx-Mystics Preview

Aug 13, 2010 - 4:13 AM By SAMANTHA PANITCH STATS Writer

Minnesota (11-17) at Washington (17-12), 7:00 p.m. EDT

The Minnesota Lynx and Washington Mystics currently own the last playoff spot in their respective conferences, but teams are in close pursuit with less than two weeks remaining in the regular season.

Both will look to increase their chances of solidifying a postseason spot when Minnesota visits Washington on Friday night.

The Mystics (17-12) are coming off an 84-74 victory over Phoenix on Tuesday that moved them three games ahead of Connecticut for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Crystal Langhorne had 23 points and 10 rebounds and Monique Currie scored 17 as Washington improved to 10-4 at home.

"We wanted to make sure that we were coming out in the third quarter and not giving up a little or momentum right off the bat," said Katie Smith, who finished with 12 points. "I thought everybody was locked in about we needed to get done."

The Lynx (11-18) don't have as much breathing room in the West. With their last-second loss to Los Angeles on Thursday night, Minnesota fell into a tie with San Antonio for the final playoff spot. Both teams are one-half game ahead of the Sparks.

Tina Thompson sank a 17-foot buzzer-beater to lift the Sparks a 78-77 win after Lindsey Whalen hit a pair of free throws with 1.1 seconds remaining to give the Lynx a short-lived lead.

Charde Houston scored 24 points off the bench for Minnesota, and Rebekkah Brunson added 17 and 14 rebounds for her 12th double-double of the season as the Lynx fell to the Sparks for the third time this season. The loss gives Los Angeles the playoff tiebreaker over Minnesota.

"It was an emotional win for them and a devastating loss for us," Minnesota assistant Jim Petersen said. "We just have to pick up the pieces and make up for this. These games are playoff basketball for us."

Before their game Thursday, the Lynx announced that Whalen signed a multiyear contract extension. The team traded for Whalen before the season and the University of Minnesota star and Minnesota native is averaging 11.9 points and 5.6 assists in her first season playing in front of her hometown fans.

Her home debut came in the only meeting between the Lynx and Mystics this season.

Currie scored 27 points as Washington spoiled Whalen's first game at the Target Center with an 87-76 victory over the Lynx on May 26.

Whalen finished with 12 points and seven assists, but the Lynx squandered a 15-point second-quarter lead and faded in the second half. Smith, a Former Lynx star, added 16 points for the Mystics.

Minnesota will be trying to win its season-high third straight on the road.