Three other games, none with playoff consequences, at least two (the NBATV ones) with good, loud crowds:

1. The Fever beat the Shock in Indy behind a big fourth quarter from Whitmore. Detroit played its usual scorers-- but sparingly: Tausha Mills started, Ayanna Walker played almost half the game.

2. The Mercury outpaced the Monarchs in Phoenix despite Brunson's 24 and 14; the home crowd saw the Merc's fifth win in a row, and plenty of minutes from the bench.

Coach Westhead is happy-- if not satisfied-- with the way his speed demons are playing: "I always think you can go faster," he said. Then he quoted Ogden Nash. Who knew?

3. Swoopes didn't play after all, but her team still defeated the Sparks in L.A. Thompson looked great, and said-- again-- that she might leave the W forever in order to extend her (far more lucrative) Euro-career.

Thus ends the worst season in the history of the L.A. franchise (had Houston lost, it would have been Houston's worst). "We're only one player away," Lisa Leslie told fans after the game, "and... I promise you I'll be back."