Fever-Storm Preview

By MIKE LIPKA
Posted Jun 24 2010 12:59PM

An injury scare for point guard Sue Bird doesn't look like it's going to slow down the WNBA-leading Seattle Storm.

In Seattle's last eight games, the Indiana Fever are the only opponent that has.

The Storm expect to have Bird in the lineup Friday night against red-hot Indiana as they look to continue the best start in franchise history and remain unbeaten at home while avenging one of their two losses.

About the only problem for Seattle during its 82-61 win over San Antonio on Sunday night was a knee injury that forced Bird out of the game in the third quarter, but tests revealed no ligament damage and the veteran is set to start Friday.

Bird, two-time league MVP Lauren Jackson and coach Brian Agler have guided the Storm (11-2) to a 5 1/2-game lead in the Western Conference.

"We have good chemistry," Bird said. "We've been together a couple of years now. We're familiar with Brian's system and it's easy to play with one another."

The Storm have been particularly impressive at home, winning all seven games - the last four by an average of 21.0 points. Swin Cash sparked Sunday's victory with 22 points and nine rebounds, while Jackson had a second consecutive double-double with 19 points and 14 boards.

Seattle has won seven of eight overall, but the team isn't getting too excited about its fast start considering it has lost in the first round of the playoffs each of the last five years.

"If anything it keeps us focused," Bird said. "We didn't win anything. ... It's nice, but we definitely know what we need to work on."

Indiana (8-4) won the Eastern Conference last year before losing to Phoenix in the WNBA finals, and the Fever are off to another strong start - including a 72-65 home win over the Storm on June 17.

"We did a really good job on Lauren and Sue," Indiana leading scorer Tamika Catchings said. "They didn't get anything easy. I credit our defense on that."

The Fever hold opponents to a league-low 71.2 points per game, but they used a big offensive performance to beat East-leading Atlanta 94-91 on Saturday for their sixth win in seven games.

"It was a really big week for us," Catchings said. "When you beat two great teams, such as Seattle and Atlanta, it's definitely a confidence builder."

Indiana will be out to prove it can equal those results on the road as it plays its next four away from home. Coach Lin Dunn's team is 2-3 on the road and has lost its last three visits to Seattle.

Jackson helps Storm rally past Fever, 85-81

Posted Jun 26 2010 1:37AM

SEATTLE(AP) Lauren Jackson scored 28 points, including a reverse layup with 19.3 seconds left, Sue Bird hit three straight 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and the Seattle Storm rallied to beat the Indiana Fever 85-11 on Friday night.

Swin Cash added 21 points to help the WNBA-leading Storm (12-2) win their third straight since a 72-65 loss at Indiana on June 17. Bird finished with 16 points.

The Storm overcame an 11-point, third-quarter deficit.

``It felt like a playoff game,'' Bird said. ``They're a very good team, a very tough team. It's good to face things like that. We showed our character and never gave up. We never do, especially in this building.''

Katie Douglas had 29 points, just one short of her career high, for the Fever (8-5). Tameka Catchings added 17 before fouling out with 44.6 seconds left.

Indiana had a 60-49 lead before going scoreless for the last 4:39 of the third quarter. Seattle finished the quarter on a 9-0 run to get to 60-58.

``Our play in the second half was a lot better, and the third quarter defensively was very good,'' Storm coach Brian Agler said. ``Tonight was a game where the star player sort of rose - Catchings and Douglas for them, then Lauren and Swin and Sue hitting big shots for us.''

The third of Bird's three consecutive 3-pointers put Seattle up 71-70 with 4:20 left. Indiana managed one more tie at 74, then a 3-pointer by Cash put the Storm ahead for good at 77-74 with 1:57 to go.

``Everyone took it into their hands,'' Jackson said. ``At the end of the day, everyone knew what they needed to do, and they got it done.''

Down 83-81, Indiana nearly had a chance at a tying or winning shot, knocking the ball away in the Storm's front court with 1.2 seconds left. Officials reviewed the play, then ruled that Seattle would retain possession. Jackson was fouled on the inbounds play and hit the two clinching free throws with 1.2 seconds left.

``We played well in spurts. But obviously, they played well longer in spurts, and that's a huge reason why they were able to win the game,'' Douglas said. ``We had an 11-point lead at one point, and they kept hitting. We weren't hitting and then we weren't getting stops, so when you combine those things with a team of this caliber, it's tough.''

Seattle hit 51.9 percent for the game (28 of 54) and took 32 free throws, but hit just 19 (59.4 percent). Indiana hit 51.8 percent (29 of 56), but went to the line just 18 times, hitting 14.

``They're very good at home, and we had a chance to win,'' Fever coach Lin Dunn said. ``At the end of the day, the fact that they took 32 free throws and we only took 18 was a factor.''

• Fever: --
• Storm: --

• Fever: Zellous
• Storm: Agler

• Lead Changes: 8
• Times Tied: 6

• Arena: Key Arena, Seattle, WA
• Officials: #7 Clarke Stevens, #44 Felicia Grinter, #45 Tom Mauer
• Attendance: 9083
• Duration: 2:6