Two more games, both on national TV, both good-but-not-great samples of the W's current product:

1. Detroit played a cat-and-mouse game with Chicago, lying low for the first half, then pouncing. "That kind of seems to be our M.O.," said coach Laimbeer.

Despite Bill's comments last week, Braxton started: apparently he asked the players to pick the starters themselves. Cash scored 20, Perkins 22.

2. Houston almost defeated Indiana, blowing a lead, then fighting back late. Byears looked surprisingly effective (not to say menacing); the Comets looked much improved from last month's hapless, winless team.

"I thought we'd pull it out," said Tina Thompson. "I really feel this loss."