Shock Delivers Knockout Blow

Shock 84, Mystics 69

The last time Detroit visited the Washington Mystics, the Shock looked like a bored cat whose plaything had stopped fighting back. The Mystics played lethargically, barely putting up any resistance as the Shock pummeled them back on July 18 -- Washington's worst loss of the season and a game it vowed to avenge when Detroit returned to Verizon Center yesterday.

When point guard Crystal Smith tied the game with two free throws and 1.8 seconds remaining in the third quarter, the Mystics looked ready to make good on the promise. They played with the energy they lacked more than a month ago, and kept up with the second-place team in the Eastern Conference.

But through the opening four minutes of the fourth quarter, the Shock outscored the Mystics 11-1, building a lead it sustained for an 84-69 victory that eliminated Washington from playoff contention. With four games remaining, the best the Mystics (10-20) can do is tie Indiana (14-16), but the Fever holds the tiebreaker as winner of the season series.

"Down the stretch in the fourth quarter, we lost our composure," Mystics interim coach Jessie Kenlaw said. "Not being able to get into our offense in the fourth quarter hurt us a lot. They were a lot more physical and a lot more experienced down the stretch. It's not that we aren't trying, we are trying -- we just didn't have what it takes down the stretch."

The Mystics shot 3 for 12 in the fourth quarter and were unable to score a field goal until six minutes remained, a drought that severely damaged any hope of ending their losing streak, which now sits at five games.

It was during the final period that Detroit (19-12) outscored the Mystics by the largest margin of the game, 26-11, and outrebounded them, 14-5.

"That's what we want to be," small forward Monique Currie said. "We want to be able to execute down the stretch and not get rattled and not let them make us turn and take bad shots, which leads to easy baskets for the other teams. We need to get back to trying to focus on executing down the stretch."

Leading the night in familiar performances was Shock forward Taj McWilliams-Franklin, who had a game-high 21 points and second-best nine rebounds in her first game in Washington since being traded away by the Mystics during the Olympic break. The 10-year WNBA veteran was the consistent presence the Mystics had grown accustomed to and drew the largest applause when the starting lineups were announced.

Unfortunately for the Mystics, though, their typical showing is hardly what they want to happen. Regardless of who is scoring -- Currie led Washington with 15 points -- there is always someone who isn't. Guard Alana Beard failed to record a field goal until her 10th attempt of the game, which came with 2:26 left in the third quarter. Beard finished with 14 points on 4 for 15 shooting, and through three games against Detroit in 2008, she has gone 7 for 32 and scored 25 points.

"We just can't seem to get everybody on the same page," Kenlaw said, adding that Beard seemed a little fatigued against the Shock because she served as the Mystics' primary point guard with Nikki Blue unable to play.

The Mystics, however, are determined to prove they can improve even if the incentive of reaching the playoffs is no longer there.

"Despite the losses, and now missing the playoffs, all we can do is stay together," said forward Andrea Gardner, who had her best game of the season, scoring 10 points on 5 for 7 shooting in an effective matchup against Detroit's Kara Braxton. "We're all here to improve and right now that's what we have to focus on. We just have to stay together."

· SPARKS 84, COMETS 66: In Houston, DeLisha Milton-Jones had 16 points and seven rebounds to help the Los Angeles Sparks clinch a playoff berth.

· STORM 96, LYNX 88: Sue Bird had 21 of her 23 points in the second half and the Storm rallied from a 13-point deficit to beat Minnesota in Seattle.