Shock-Storm Preview

By MATT BEARDMORE
Posted Aug 24 2011 2:24PM

The last time Lauren Jackson faced the Tulsa Shock, she left with a hip injury that cost her nearly two months of the season. In two games since returning, the three-time MVP has delivered late to help the Seattle Storm get back on track.

Jackson and the Storm look to continue their playoff push Thursday night when they host the Shock, who have lost a league-record 19 in a row and haven't won on the road in 13 months.

Jackson suffered a torn labrum during an 82-77 victory at Tulsa on June 21. Seattle (15-12) went 10-10 without the seven-time All-Star center, but has won two straight since her return - thanks in large part to Jackson.

She scored her team's first 10 fourth-quarter points and finished with 20 in a 63-62 victory over New York on Saturday. On Tuesday, Jackson shot 3 of 4 to score six of her 13 points in the final 10 minutes of a 63-55 home win over San Antonio.

The Storm had been 0-9 this season when trailing after three quarters prior to those contests. They had dropped four of five just before their star's return.

" ... Lauren made a couple of Lauren Jackson plays with turnaround jump shots and drop steps," coach Brian Agler said after the victory over the Silver Stars.

Seattle trails second-place Phoenix by 1 1/2 games in the Western Conference.

The Shock (1-24) will try to limit the Storm's opportunities in the paint, but they haven't had much success in slowing down point guard Sue Bird during their three losses to Seattle this season.

Bird, who scored 12 points Tuesday to become the 16th player in league history to reach 4,000, is averaging team highs of 19.7 points and 5.3 assists against the Shock in 2011. For the season, she's scoring 15.0 points per game with 4.9 assists.

While Seattle will try to post its fifth straight victory in this matchup and improve to 29-2 at home since the start of 2010, Tulsa hasn't won since June 18.

The Shock have lost 21 straight on the road since July 16, 2010. They have been outscored by an average of 25.3 points in three games at KeyArena since relocating from Detroit prior to last season, including a league-record 46-point defeat Aug. 7, 2010.

Tulsa came very close to ending its skid Tuesday before losing 78-72 to WNBA-leading Minnesota. Ivory Latta had a jumper in the lane blocked with 19.1 seconds left as the Lynx held off a late rally.

"We thought tonight might be the night," said center Tina Jackson, who leads Tulsa with 16.7 points and 8.3 rebounds against Seattle this year. "We just came up short, but we're getting there.''

The Shock's Liz Cambage scored a career-best 24 points with 10 rebounds in a 77-63 loss at Seattle on Aug. 11.

Jackson helps Storm beat Shock 74-57

Posted Aug 26 2011 1:17AM

SEATTLE (AP) Three-time WNBA MVP Lauren Jackson gave the Seattle Storm the lift they needed for the third straight game.

Jackson had nine of her 14 points in the third quarter to help lead the Storm past the Tulsa Shock 74-57 Thursday night for Seattle's third straight win since her return from a hip injury.

``When you have the best player in the world on your team, it makes a big difference,'' said Storm guard Tanisha Wright. ``She 100 percent opens up a lot of different opportunities for each and every player on the floor. As she gets even more and more comfortable with playing again, a lot more things are going to open up even more.''

Wright scored 12 points, Camille Little had 10 and Swin Cash nine for Seattle (16-12), which moved into a tie with Phoenix for second place in the Western Conference.

Jackson and Sue Bird sat out the fourth quarter as the Storm held a comfortable lead. Jackson played just 15 minutes.

``Obviously, she didn't play a whole lot tonight which is probably good,'' Storm coach Brian Agler said. ``But she has recovered well after each game.''

Tiffany Jackson and Sheryl Swoopes each scored 12 points and Amber Holt had 10 for Tulsa (1-25), which extended its WNBA record to 20 straight losses.

``I just think they came out with more intensity in the second half and we really didn't match it,'' Tiffany Jackson said. ``We never could match it in the second half.''

Lauren Jackson has averaged 15.7 points in the three games after missing 20 games.

``She can ring 'em up if you get the ball to her in the right spots she has the ability to do that,'' Agler said. ``We just didn't shoot the ball very well in the first half and she wasn't shooting the ball well in the first half. But she got the ball and played with a little more rhythm in the second half.''

Jackson made 4 of 9 shots from the field, including two 3-pointers. She opened the second half with a three-point play and a 3-pointer.

``I was mad and that's what happens when I get mad is I don't think and when I don't think I tend to play better,'' said Jackson, who was frustrated when she and Tulsa's Jennifer Lacy got tangled up. ``I got mad, got up, had a few words with a few people and ran down the court and shot a 3. It felt good, back to my own self.''

Defending champion Seattle hopes to overtake Phoenix for second as the top two conference teams earn homecourt advantage in the playoffs. The Storm are 12-2 at home and 4-10 on the road.

Jackson scored nine and Cash had five to key a 28-16 run in the third quarter and give the Storm a 56-41 lead. Jackson hit two 3-pointers in the quarter to help offset Holt's eight points, including two 3's.

Seattle led 28-25 at halftime as Tiffany Jackson scored 10 to help keep the Shock close.

Despite Tulsa's nearly 7-minute scoreless drought to start the second quarter, the Shock closed the first half with six straight points.

The Storm struggled as well with a 4-minute scoreless stretch early in the second quarter and shot 3 for 16 from the field in the period. Jackson and Cash were a combined 1 for 11 in the first half, including Cash's 0-for-5 effort.

Tulsa's only win this season came on June 18, 77-59 against Washington.

``We're warriors, we're fighting but it's a test of character for us,'' Tulsa coach Teresa Edwards said. ``We have a lot of young ladies with a lot of pride.''

• Shock: --
• Storm: --

• Shock: Olajuwon
• Storm: Jackson

• Lead Changes: 8
• Times Tied: 0

• Arena: Key Arena, Seattle, WA
• Officials: #4 Sue Blauch, #34 Maj Forsberg, #46 Tim Greene
• Attendance: 6887
• Duration: 1:44