Mystics vs. Shock: Most complete game of season is first home win, 20-point blowout

The final seconds were ticking off the clock and the Washington Mystics’ lead had swelled to more than 20 points, so a member of the team’s game operations staff presented a simple question that had yet to be answered this season.

“What music do we play if we win?” he said into his radio.

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That’s the type of year this has been early on for the injury-riddled Mystics, who had yet to win a home game in 2011. But that distinction came to an end Sunday afternoon as Washington put together its most complete performance of the year in an 83-63 blowout victory over the Tulsa Shock in front of 10,675 fans at Verizon Center.

The Mystics never trailed after jumping to a 9-0 first-quarter lead, and the margin stretched to as much as 24 points in the second half as four Washington players finished with double figures. Forward Crystal Langhorne led the way with 23 points and guard Matee Ajavon added 21 points and six assists. Forward Marissa Coleman chipped in with 13 points and a career-high 12 rebounds.

The victory snapped Washington’s four-game losing streak and, in the process, lifted the Mystics out of the WNBA’s Eastern Conference cellar.

“No one likes to lose, and we were having a tough time,” Langhorne said. “We really needed this win to get us going.”

Perhaps the biggest catalyst on this day, though, was the Mystics’ defense throughout. Washington held Tulsa to 35.3 percent shooting — the team’s best showing of the year in that category — and forced the Shock into 20 turnovers.

The stops triggered the Mystics’ fast break, and Washington ended the game with a 19-4 advantage in transition points. Center Liz Cambage and forward Sheryl Swoopes led Tulsa with 15 and 11 points, respectively. But the duo combined for just four points after halftime.

Washington Coach Trudi Lacey said afterward that the team’s focus in practice this week was to limit Tulsa’s three-point shooting after the Shock hit nine three-pointers in their 77-59 victory over the Mystics in Tulsa last Saturday.

“We’re pretty good when we can defend and get out and run a little. It’s what we want to do,” said Lacey, after the Shock made just two of their seven attempts from long distance. “It’s a work in progress [but] we’re on the right track.”

From the tip, though, the Mystics appeared more comfortable than they had all season on both ends of the floor. Washington shot 47.5 percent from the field and dished out 20 assists — both season highs.

So as they left the floor Sunday, and Kool and the Gang’s “Celebration” blared from the Verizon Center speakers, the Mystics were all smiles. A blowout, they all said, should do wonders for this team’s psyche.

“I think a lot of people are doubting us. Maybe a little bit of that doubt crept in here for a minute there,” said center Nicky Anosike, who had 13 points and 10 rebounds. “To get a win — not just a win — but a win where we’re all playing together and playing well is such a confidence booster. We really needed it because four losses in a row, I don’t know how well we would have dealt with a fifth.”

l SILVER STARS 92, DREAM 86: Jia Perkins scored 25 points, rookie Danielle Adams added 19 and San Antonio won in Atlanta. With a WNBA-best 6-1 record, the Silver Stars are off to the best start in their 15-year history.

Coco Miller finished with 19 points and Angel McCoughtry had 15 for the Dream (2-7), which led by seven with 5:02 remaining.

Becky Hammon drew a foul from Courtney Paris and hit a pair of three throws to give the Silver Stars an 81-79 lead with 1:53 left in the game. Hammon finished with 17 points and six assists.

l LIBERTY 77, SPARKS 67: Cappie Pondexter scored 22 points to lead New York past Los Angeles in Newark.

Essence Carson had 18 points and Plenette Pierson added 16 as the Liberty (4-4) picked up its first win at Prudential Center, its home for the next three seasons while Madison Square Garden undergoes renovations during the summer.

Candace Parker scored 16 points and Tina Thompson had 14 for Los Angeles (4-3).

Parker appeared to injure her right knee with about six minutes to go in the third quarter. She limped off the court, went to the locker room and did not return.

lFEVER 78, LYNX 75: Katie Douglas scored 22 points for Indiana, including the go-ahead basket with just more than a minute to play in Minneapolis.

Minnesota (5-3) held a six-point lead in the fourth quarter, but Douglas and Tamika Catchings hit back-to-back three-pointers to tie it at 67 with 5:37 left. The teams traded baskets until Douglas hit a jump shot from the free throw line to put Indiana (6-3) on top 75-73 with 1:06 to go.

Maya Moore led the Lynx with 21 points.