The Houston Comets know from experience that a bad start can derail a season. With their recent surge, however, they're hoping to prove that that's not always the case.

The Comets go for their sixth win in seven games on Saturday night when they host the Indiana Fever.

Houston opened 2007 with 10 straight losses before finally getting in the win column. Though the Comets went a respectable 13-11 the rest of the way, they still missed the playoffs while matching the worst record in franchise history.

This year, Houston didn't fare well early either, dropping seven of its first eight games. But the Comets (6-8) have responded by winning five of their last six, including three in a row - their longest streak since a five-game run from May 23-June 4, 2006.

Houston's current run was in jeopardy it fell behind by 10 in the second half on Thursday against San Antonio, but fourth-year center Sancho Lyttle was 10-of-12 from the field and scored a career-high 23 points to help the Comets salvage a 77-71 victory.

Lyttle was filling in for injured forward Tina Thompson, who missed the game with a broken ring finger. Thompson, the team leader with 17.2 points and 7.9 rebounds, will be a gametime decision Saturday.

The Fever (7-7) also know what it's like to be without a key player as five-time All-Star Tamika Catchings missed the first eight games of the season while recovering from offseason surgery to repair a torn Achilles' tendon in her right foot.

The two-time Defensive Player of the Year played a season-high 35 minutes in Indiana's 102-96 triple-overtime loss to New York on Thursday - her sixth game back.

"Every practice and every game I'm getting better and better," said Catchings, who estimates she's playing at about 75 percent.

Catchings had 15 points against the Liberty, but the Fever were led by Ebony Hoffman as she scored a career-high 26. She went 11-for-19 from the field, including a career-best three 3-pointers, before fouling out with about two minutes to go in the second overtime.

"Ebony's done a great job," Fever coach Lin Dunn said. "She has asserted herself and been really aggressive. Losing her when she fouled out was really a big blow."

Hoffman is averaging 10.1 points and shooting 49.6 percent from the field this season - both career highs - and Katie Douglas is scoring a career-best 17.4 points, helping ease the pressure on Catchings as she continues to get healthy.

"That definitely does help," Catchings said. "It's a good thing other people had to step up. Hopefully they can continue to step up. Even though I'm back we still need them to continue to do the things they've been doing."