All the first-round series will continue to game three-- and one of them may turn on a new injury:

1. Indiana led the whole way in Detroit until a last-play three from Tweety forced OT.

It was the kind of game we've seen Detroit win before-- lackluster effort until it really counts, then superior athletes who take over and rule the paint for the extra frame-- and even the commentators seemed to expect the Shock to finish things off, especially since Catch and Sutton-Brown had five fouls.

It didn't happen. The Fever kept their heads, regained control and forced a game three behind timely long-distance shots from Ebony Hoffman (whose range surely helped her win the Most Improved crown) and Tully Bevilacqua.

The Fever got the kind of game they've liked in years past, with lots of trips to the line. At the end, they looked like a team, with at least three players on the floor together (Tully, Catch, Douglas) who knew where their teammates were at all times. (Tully's stats continue to puzzle me: how can you shoot almost 35% from downtown, and only 60% from the line?)

In even worse news for Shock fans, Plenette Pierson took a serious blow to the shoulder after a tangle with Hoffman (Voepel says Pierson was the victim this time): PP left the game, showed up in the sidelines on a sling, and might miss game three Tuesday night.

2. Seattle cleaned up in KeyArena, easily beating L.A. with serious defense. Swoopes, who started, looked great (16 points, and four steals): "This is one of the games I've wanted to have all year," she said.

The Sparks scored just fifteen points before halftime, though they managed a late comeback around transition offense and broken plays. But the visitors never got closer than seven; Leslie looked quite frustrated all night.

Sue Bird (who took yet another blow to the schnozz): "I know it's not as high scoring as ESPN would have liked, but for us that means we are going to win, so it's a good thing." (Remember when Seattle was all offense, all the time?)