SEATTLE, June 20 (AP) -- Katie Smith and Deanna Nolan showed the Seattle Storm that the Detroit Shock just might have the best backcourt in the WNBA.

Smith had 23 points and Nolan scored 18 to lead the Shock to an 87-71 victory over the Storm on Wednesday night, helping Detroit (9-1) to its best start in franchise history.

"They're two of the best,'' Detroit coach Bill Laimbeer said. "Kate Smith is damn near the best of all-time, and Nolan might be the best right now.''

Nolan hit a 3-pointer with three minutes left in the third quarter to give the defending champion Shock a 20-point lead.

"Tweety (Nolan) and I think we can guard just about anybody and offensively are talented enough to knock down shots when we need to,'' Smith said.

Janell Burse had a season-high 21 points to lead Seattle (5-5), which fell behind 8-0 in the first two minutes of the game and never led.

Detroit held Lauren Jackson to a season-low 11 points -- 12 below her season average. She shot 5-for-11 from the field in 31 minutes and spent part of the game on the bench in foul trouble.

"Getting in early foul trouble in a game throws you off your rhythm and you have to work really hard to get back in that,'' Laimbeer said. "But at the same time, we put a defense to try to deny her the ball and when she got the ball we brought help.''

Nolan had seven points and three assists in the third quarter to help the Shock build the 20-point lead. Smith shot 9-for-14 while Nolan was 8-for-13, and they each had five assists.

The Shock entered the game allowing a league-low 71.8 points per game, holding opponents to 38 percent shooting from the field. Detroit shot 51 percent (36-for-70) and held Seattle to 39 percent (22-for-57).

"When we shoot well, we're pretty close to unbeatable,'' Laimbeer said. "If you look at our defense, it's No. 1 in the league in field-goal percentage against and that's what we hang our hat on in order to get wins. That's what we do for a living.''

Cheryl Ford, who missed the Shock's previous two games with a sprained left knee, had 10 points and seven rebounds and spent part of the game defending Jackson.

Seattle was only 1-of-10 from the field in the first quarter, but made 12 of 15 free throws to stay within nine points after trailing by 13.

Jackson knows Seattle has a long way to go to reach the level Detroit is playing at.

"Honestly, if I could say I wanted our team to be like one team in the league I would say Detroit,'' Jackson said. "They play with that intensity and heart and all other issues are gone and they just go out and play.''