The Storm rested their stars again Sunday, and again the Storm lost. At least it wasn’t a blowout. Renee Montgomery made two free throws with 14.4 seconds left to help give Connecticut a 60-58 win at KeyArena, the fourth loss in a row for the Storm, which again did not play Sue Bird or Lauren Jackson.
The Storm, which lost its three previous games, all on the road, by a total of 64 points, again was plagued by turnovers, this time 23.
Bird has a sore hip flexor and Jackson has a strained hamstring. Coach Brian Agler said he wants to rest them for the WNBA playoffs at the end of the month.
Back-to-back threes from Tina Thompson and Katie Smith, followed by a two-pointer from Smith, put the Storm up 58-54 with 1:21 left. Kara Lawson, who led the Sun with 13 points, hit a three with 51.5 seconds left to cut the lead to 58-57.
After Tanisha Wright had her shot blocked by Montgomery, the Storm retained possession until Camille Little fouled Montgomery on a rebound, and she made the pair from the line.
Shekinna Stricklen, who led the Storm with 12 points, missed a 10-footer with two seconds left. Misti Mims, who had 11 points and 11 rebounds, hit one of two free throws and Stricklen was short with a heave at the buzzer.
Connecticut improved to 23-9 and moved two games ahead of Indiana atop the Eastern Conference.