Mystics - Fever Preview
By Associated Press
Locked in a tight race for the best record in the Eastern Conference, the Indiana Fever know they control their own destiny.
The Fever can clinch home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs Wednesday night by completing a season sweep of the visiting Washington Mystics.
Indiana (20-11) is trying to hold off surging Connecticut for the East's top spot. The Fever ended a three-game slide with Sunday's 88-80 victory at Chicago.
"We have been a first-place team, but Connecticut is on a run here," coach Lin Dunn said. "We have a lot of teams playing really well, so we really needed to win this game, plus we were coming off some tough losses."
Dunn's team only needs one more win to wrap up the home-court edge in the opening round because it's 2 1/2 games ahead of New York and Atlanta, which are tied for third place in the East.
Tamika Catchings and Katie Douglas scored 17 points apiece Sunday as Indiana placed four players in double figures.
"Coming off of three losses, I think, just to come out and have a great performance that was No. 1 on our minds right now and I think going into the playoffs, just trying to get that playoff mentality," Catchings said. "We don't want to focus on where you stand in the standings because at the end of the day it really doesn't matter when you get to the playoffs. It is a matter of going into the playoffs with the right mentality."
Indiana notched its sixth 20-win campaign in seven seasons. Los Angeles is the only other franchise to accomplish that, doing so between 1999-2006.
The Fever are 4-0 against Washington (6-26), winning twice at home by a combined 43 points. Catchings hasn't been needed to put up gaudy numbers in the season series, averaging 13.5 points.
The Mystics have lost a season-high seven straight on the road and turned in an awful performance Sunday in their final home game. They set season lows for points and field-goal percentage (26.9) in a 79-48 loss to Connecticut.
"I think we are physically and mentally tired, three games in four days with a short bench," coach Trudi Lacey said.
Star forward Crystal Langhorne made 4 of 13 shots for the second straight game and scored 10 points - 8.5 below her average.
"I felt all season that we have competed and we have fought through and overcome a lot of obstacles and challenges," Lacey said. "Today it just didn't feel like we competed."
WASHINGTON (6 - 26) at INDIANA (20 - 11)
Top Trends for this game.
WASHINGTON is 210-260 ATS (-76.0 Units) in all games since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 126-166 ATS (-56.6 Units) as an underdog since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 27-47 ATS (-24.7 Units) in road games in August or September games since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 17-33 ATS (-19.3 Units) on Wednesday since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 38-60 ATS (-28.0 Units) when playing with 2 days rest since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 131-170 ATS (-56.0 Units) vs. division opponents since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 130-166 ATS (-52.6 Units) after a division game since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 7-14 ATS (-8.4 Units) after allowing 75 points or more this season.
WASHINGTON is 57-81 ATS (-32.1 Units) after a loss by 10 points or more since 1997.
WASHINGTON is 13-29 ATS (-18.9 Units) after scoring 55 points or less since 1997.
INDIANA is 14-7 ATS (+6.3 Units) as a favorite this season.
INDIANA is 11-4 ATS (+6.6 Units) in home games this season.
INDIANA is 22-10 ATS (+11.0 Units) after allowing 75 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
INDIANA is 25-13 ATS (+10.7 Units) after scoring 75 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
INDIANA is 8-6 against the spread versus WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
INDIANA is 11-3 straight up against WASHINGTON over the last 3 seasons
8 of 14 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
WASHINGTON vs. INDIANA
Washington is 1-7 ATS in its last 8 games
The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Washington's last 16 games when playing on the road against Indiana
Indiana is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
Indiana is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games