With the success the Connecticut Sun have enjoyed at home in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, it's easy to see why they'd want to play as many postseason games as possible at Mohegan Sun Arena.

They can take a major step toward securing home-court advantage in the first round Tuesday when they start the season's final week on the road against the Houston Comets.

Connecticut (20-11) has won all six of its first-round home playoff games since the franchise relocated from Orlando prior to the 2003 season. The East-leading Sun can guarantee home court in the opening round with a win Tuesday combined with a New York loss.

With victories in their final three games, the Sun can lock up home-court advantage throughout the conference playoffs.

They've won 12 of their 16 games in Uncasville, Conn., this season, but delivered one of their worst home performances in their latest contest. Connecticut shot 36 percent from the field and 16.7 percent from 3-point range in an 85-73 loss to West-leading San Antonio on Sunday.

The Sun missed 15 straight shots late in the second quarter, including several easy opportunities.

"It was incredible,'' coach Mike Thibault said. "I don't know what to draw up to get a better shot than a layup. They were just better than us.''

One positive for Connecticut was the play of forward Asjha Jones, who rebounded from her worst offensive performance of the season. She was 1-of-9 for five points in a win over Chicago on Friday, but scored 22 and grabbed nine rebounds against the Silver Stars. Jones has scored at least 20 points in three of her last four games, and leads the Sun with 16.8 points per game.

Connecticut, however, needs more offense from Lindsay Whalen. The guard leads the league with 5.4 assists per game, but she's had trouble with her shot since the Olympic break. Whalen is shooting 32.1 percent and averaging 7.3 points since the hiatus, down from her 15.3-point average in the team's first 26 games, and her assist totals are down too.

Houston (14-17) will be alive in the West playoff race at tip-off Tuesday, but might not be at the end of the night - even with a win.

The Comets have lost five in a row to fade from the postseason picture, and if Sacramento wins late Tuesday night, coach Karleen Thompson's team will miss the playoffs for a second straight season.

Houston had a chance to bolster its hopes - and eliminate one of its competitors - in its last game, but instead was handed its worst defeat of the season, 99-74 at Phoenix.

"Our focus is to continue to fight and win some games," Thompson said. "We're not going to lay down ... but we're going to try to fight and right the ship."

This time, the Comets will have leading scorer Tina Thompson, who missed the team's 78-68 loss at Connecticut on July 1 with a broken left ring finger. Thompson (17.2 ppg) averaged 18.5 points in a pair of losses to the Sun last season.