It was double deja vu at the Garden last night -- both the game and an opposing player seemed eerily familiar. (Though the arena did look more like the Reliant Park, what with all the Rutgers Red clad fans coming to see the first match-up of Essence Carson and Matee Ajavon).

Just like in the last game against Seattle, the Liberty jumped out to a quick 17-point lead, shooting lights out. Houston, just like Seattle in the last game, looked out of sorts and out of sync.

Following the past-game script, Houston fought back behind Tina Thompson's play and, late in the third, took a lead. (Gotta say, watching the Comets these days is somewhat double-visiony: I keep seeing the players wearing their former jerseys under their Houston red: Mwadi-yellow, Maiga-ba-purple, Dixon-yellow, Pee Wee - rainbow.)

The Comets deviated slightly from the script by still having the lead in the fourth, but some timely team shooting (4 Libs in double figures, and the team shot over 50%) and scrappy defense pulled the Liberty ahead once more and earned New York a 81-73 win.

The story/stat line of the game? 5'5" goes 6-6 (3-3 from downtown), 7 assists, 3 rebounds and 2 turnovers in 30 minutes.

Who dat? MiniMi, aka Leilani Mitchell, who made her first WNBA start as point for the Lib with Loree Moore out with back spasms.

"I didn't know I didn't miss a shot. That's a good thing I guess," Mitchell said after getting the start in place of the injured Loree Moore (back spasms). "I'm just glad I was able to contribute and knock down open shots because they definitely left me open. In order to get other people open you have to make your shots and keep the defense guessing."

Said Moore: "She takes very good care of the basketball, she reads defenses really well and she basically picked apart their team tonight. It didn't surprise me at all. I see it every day in practice.

How'd MiniMi get to wear Sue Wicks old number? The Lib scrimmaged against the Mercury (who'd drafted her in the 2nd round out of Utah) and Mitchell caught Patty Coyle's eye. Hearing Phoenix was going to cut her, New York offered a '09 third-round pick for her. (And yes, the new-Becky Hammon talk has already started )

The other deja vu moment? Watching the phenomenal Tina Thompson play her heart out (and scoring her 5000th point), I was having flashbacks to Taj and the Mystics.

I love Tina -- I always have, even though she's played for the bane of New York's existence, the Comets. Her face after she and the US team won Athens gold is one of those pictures I'll carry around with me forever.

So to see her fight and play and stare with fury at her teammates makes me hurt inside. But, it is part of the game, isn't it? Great players sometime play with teams that can't match their skill level, intensity and professionalism. (And care -- post-game, she took a moment to speak with Jess Davenport and ask about the street clothes. And what was the chest-bumpy thing with Tiffany Jackson?? )

If this does turn out to be Tina's final season, the W will lose someone very special -- someone who is more than her game. Enjoy her while she's here.