Tonight's Game Really Matters

. . . to Detroit. If the Shock beat the Mystics when the two teams meet later today at the Palace of Auburn Hills, and if Connecticut loses tonight to San Antonio, then Detroit locks up first place in the East and, more important, home court advantage throughout the Conference playoffs. It's all spelled out here.

The Mystics have lost all three of their prior games against the Shock this season, including both home games (one of which was an utter embarrassment and cost the Mystics their coach). Tonight, in Detroit, with so much on the line for the Shock, well . . . it's not going to be pretty easy for the Mystics to pull the upset. But who knows? If you want to follow the action, you can. The game will be televised on NBA TV starting at 7:30 PM EDT.