Game: Seattle Storm (13-16) at San Antonio Silver Stars (18-11). When: 5 p.m. PT Friday. Where: San Antonio. Series: 1-1. TV: NBA TV. Radio: 1090 AM
Two teams with WNBA expectations this season meet Friday in San Antonio in a salvage operation.
The Silver Stars’ only win in the last six games is over the lowly Tulsa Shock, and the Storm have lost six of its past nine. The difference San Antonio played well earlier in the season and is 18-11 while the Storm have never been in gear.
Both will be in the playoffs, but no one has any idea how they will fare. The Silver Stars (18-11) ended their surprising skid with a 78-67 victory over last-place Tulsa Wednesday. San Antonio had won 15 of 17 before suddenly falling apart in the next five games. The losing streak included three in a row at home.
The Storm was in Indiana Tuesday and committed 28 turnovers in a 72-48 thrashing by the Fever — the club’s lowest point total since 2004. Starting guards Sue Bird (rest) and Tanisha Wright (strained groin) sat out, and their returns are a game-time decision. Playing their third contest in four road nights.
While Seattle (13-16) is headed to playoffs, it certainly hasn’t been surging to the end of the regular season. Lauren Jackson has been wildly inconsistent, missing 8 of 10 shots against the Fever while committing seven turnovers. She’s averaging 11 points a game since her return from an extended Olympics break, against a career average of 19.
Coaches: Brian Agler is in his fifth season with the Storm. Dan Hughes, also the Stars’ GM, is in his seventh year.
SEATTLE STORM 2012 SCHEDULE/RESULTS
| Date | Opponent | W/L | Score | Rec. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/18/12 | vs. Los Angeles | L | 66-72 | 0-1 |
| 5/22/12 | at Los Angeles | L | 61-74 | 0-2 |
| 5/27/12 | at Minnesota | L | 71-84 | 0-3 |
| 6/1/12 | vs. Tulsa | W | 76-58 | 1-3 |
| 6/3/12 | at Los Angeles | L | 65-67 | 1-4 |
| 6/6/12 | at Minnesota | L | 55-79 | 1-5 |
| 6/9/12 | at San Antonio | L | 67-80 | 1-6 |
| 6/13/12 | at Chicago | L | 58-74 | 1-7 |
| 6/15/12 | at Tulsa | W | 86-73 | 2-7 |
| 6/17/12 | vs. Minnesota | W | 65-62 | 3-7 |
| 6/22/12 | vs. San Antonio | W | 82-76 | 4-7 |
| 6/24/12 | vs. Washington | W | 72-55 | 5-7 |
| 6/26/12 | at Washington | W | 79-71 | 6-7 |
| 6/30/12 | at New York | L | 59-77 | 6-8 |
| 7/1/12 | at Connecticut | W | 89-83 | 7-8 |
| 7/7/12 | at Los Angeles | L | 59-83 | 7-9 |
| 7/8/12 | vs. Phoenix | W | 83-68 | 8-9 |
| 7/11/12 | vs. Atlanta | L | 59-70 | 8-10 |
| 7/13/12 | at Phoenix | W | 83-64 | 9-10 |
| 8/16/12 | vs. Phoenix | W | 72-58 | 10-10 |
| 8/18/12 | vs. Los Angeles | L | 71-82 | 10-11 |
| 8/21/12 | vs. Minnesota | L | 73-86 | 10-12 |
| 8/23/12 | vs. Indiana | L | 66-68 | 10-13 |
| 8/26/12 | vs. New York | W | 84-66 | 11-13 |
| 8/30/12 | vs. Phoenix | L | 68-74 | 11-14 |
| 9/6/12 | vs. Tulsa | W | 101-74 | 12-14 |
| 9/8/12 | at Tulsa | W | 89-66 | 13-14 |
| 9/11/12 | at Atlanta | L | 77-61 | 13-15 |
| 9/12/12 | at Indiana | L | 48-72 | 13-16 |
| 9/14/12 | at San Antonio | — | — | — |
| 9/16/12 | vs. Connecticut | — | — | — |
| 9/18/12 | vs. Chicago | — | — | — |
| 9/21/12 | vs. San Antonio | — | — | — |
| 9/23/12 | at Phoenix | — | — | — |
