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Three Takeaways: The Connecticut Sun deal the Washington Mystics their third straight loss

By Lindsay Gibbs

UNCASVILLE, CT - JULY 08: Connecticut Sun forward Jonquel Jones (35) defended by Washington Mystics guard Elena Delle Donne (11) steps back to shoot during the first half of an WNBA game between Washington Mystics and Connecticut Sun on July 8, 2017, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. Connecticut defeated Washington 96-92. (Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
UNCASVILLE, CT - JULY 08: Connecticut Sun forward Jonquel Jones (35) defended by Washington Mystics guard Elena Delle Donne (11) steps back to shoot during the first half of an WNBA game between Washington Mystics and Connecticut Sun on July 8, 2017, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. Connecticut defeated Washington 96-92. (Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, D.C.–One month and one day after the game between Washington Mystics and Connecticut Sun was postponed because of a leak in the Capital One Arena roof, the two teams finally squared off in the nation’s capital.

But while their last meeting was supposed to be a battle for supremacy in the East, in the last month, these two have had divergent paths.

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The Sun went 7-2 in the last month and firmly established themselves as one of the best teams in the league.

The Mystics, meanwhile, went 4-5, including four losses in their last five games, and came into this game desperate to snap a two-game losing skid and re-establish some momentum, any momentum at all, headed into the postseason.

They were not successful. On Tuesday night in D.C. the Sun beat the Mystics 86-76 behind 26 points, 10 rebounds from Alyssa Thomas and 14 points, 22 rebounds from Jonquel Jones. This sealed the fourth spot — and an all-important bye — for the Sun. Both teams have two games remaining before the postseason. Here’s what we learned.

The Mystics have no clue who they are

Look, I give the Mystics some credit for fighting back late in the fourth to turn a 16-point deficit into a four-point one with 1:15 left in the game. But the way things unravelled from there was telling.After a Connecticut timeout, the Mystics immediately gave up an easy jump shot to Jasmine Thomas. Then, on the other end, the Mystics passed the ball beautifully to get out of trouble and find Ivory Latta, but Latta missed a wide-open three that would have made it a one-possession game.

Then Connecticut got the rebound, Kristi Tolliver fouled Jasmine Thomas on the other end for no good reason, and Thomas hit two free throws that essentially sealed the victory.

Yes, the Mystics have had some bad luck this season — losing Tayler Hill for the year was a huge blow, and having Elena Delle Donne miss so many games with injuries didn’t help either. Cloud’s absence is felt off the bench as well. But there’s no excuse for them to be this lost on the court this late in the season.

It’s notable that the team is 0-3 since their best player, Delle Donne, came back from injury. When Delle Donne is out, everyone on the team knows they have to step up in her absence. But when she’s in the lineup, the team is often stuck somewhere between trying to get her the ball more often and figuring out if they should take a shot instead of passing. They’re unsure, and it results in missed shots, sloppy passes, and confusion late in games. As head coach Mike Thibault said repeatedly in press, they lack an identity. They’re definitely a more talented team when Delle Donne is on the court, but right now, they’re not a more cohesive one.

They need to figure this out quickly. Otherwise, it’s one-and-done in the postseason.

Both teams are aggressive rebounders

Tuesday night’s game was not a pretty one at all. The Mystics shot 36.4 percent from the field, and the the Sun only shot 35.5 percent. Both teams did great on the boards, though — the Mystics had 44 and the Sun had 48.

The Sun did a better job staying focused and physical throughout the game, particularly in transition.

Delle Donne led the Mystics all around, with 24 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. Shatori Walker-Kimbrough was the only other Mystic in double digits, with 14 off of the bench, and Krystal Thomas added 7 points and 14 rebounds. It was a horrible game for Emma Meesseman, who was in foul trouble from the beginning and bloodied up by an under-basket scrimmage in the second quarter. She only finished with four points and one rebound.

The Suns are extremely scrappy

Okay, so there are a lot of impressive things about the Sun. Jones is an absolute beast on the boards — Tuesday night she had 14 points and 22 rebounds, which leaves her just 15 rebounds shy of Tina Charles’s single-season WNBA record, set her rookie season back in 2010. Meanwhile, Alyssa Thomas just makes absolutely everything happen — she was 8-13 from the line — and Shekinnah Stricklen is as close as it gets to automatic from three.

But the most impressive things about the Sun on Tuesday night was their scrappiness. This is a physical, in-sync team that isn’t afraid of missed shots or sloppy passes, contact or scrambles. They were constantly reaching in and going for the steal — they had five steals and forced 11 turnovers, but it felt like more of each. They never allowed the Mystics to get into a rhythm, and they never stopped hustling, even when leading by double digits. This team is going to be a tough out for anyone in the playoffs.

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