Shakira Austin is carrying Washington
The Mystics just keep rolling. Six wins in a row now, and Shakira Austin is the biggest reason why. The big has cleared 20 points in four of her last five games.
Friday told the story. She put up 21 points and 11 rebounds in a 79-74 win over the Atlanta Dream. On the season she is averaging 16.1 points and 9.6 boards, and Washington sit at 18-12. Sunday brings the Phoenix Mercury to town.
Austin credits the run to reading the floor. “I find my spots, I spot the mismatches. When the defenders are smaller, I keep it simple,” she said afterward.
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Kelsey Plum, Phoenix’s one real threat
At the other end, the Mercury are trying to stop the bleeding. Phoenix arrive on back-to-back losses, the latest a 75-72 defeat to the Sun on Friday. Kelsey Plum poured in 25 that night. The guard, who came over from Los Angeles this summer, has run her new side’s offence across the last two games.
Her coach isn’t surprised. “She’s played around big-time players, in Las Vegas, with Team USA, then in Los Angeles,” Nate Tibbetts said. A five-time All-Star, Plum is averaging 23.4 points and 5.9 assists a game.
A clash of opposite trends
The game caps a six-game home stand for Washington. They have not dropped one of them. Phoenix, meanwhile, are deep into a fourth straight road trip that has yielded a single win against two losses.
Phoenix (12-21) are miles off the pace. Washington are hunting a seventh straight win and a firmer grip on their playoff spot. Austin on one side, Plum on the other. This one has a bit of everything.
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