Scouting report Detroit Shock at Chicago Sky

Scouting report

Detroit Shock at Chicago Sky

When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: UIC Pavilion

TV: Channel 11; Radio: WVON 1690-AM

The word: If the Sky intends on staying in the playoff race, it needs to quickly rebound from Tuesday's 74-56 thumping at Connecticut. The Sky hit just 39 percent of its shots, racked up 17 turnovers to the Sun's 8 and was outrebounded by 12. The good news is that the Sky didn't lose any ground in the Eastern Conference. With a 12-15 record, the team sits in fourth place, which would be good enough for the final playoff spot. The Sky trails third-place Connecticut by 3 games and is ahead of New York and Washington by 1 game. Defending WNBA champion Detroit sits atop the Eastern Conference with a 21-6 record and is the only team in the league to have clinched a playoff spot. The Shock is 4 games up on the second-place Indiana Fever. The Shock has maintained pace despite losing forward Cheryl Ford (13 ppg) for the rest of the season with a left knee injury. Ford, who was named the most valuable player of July's WNBA All-Star Game, wants to return for the playoffs, but doctors are unsure if she'll be ready. In the meantime, Detroit gets plenty of scoring from guards Deanna Nolan (16.3 ppg) and Katie Smith (14.4 ppg) and forward Plenette Pierson (11.5 ppg). Leading the Sky is forward Candice Dupree, who ranks ninth in the WNBA with a 17.3-point scoring average. Reserve guard Jia Perkins is averaging 11.7 points coming off the bench, and center Chasity Melvin and guard Stacey Dales are both at 9.9 points per game.

Next: Sky at Washington Mystics, Sunday

-- Patricia Babcock McGraw