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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
WASHINGTON (AP) -- In the noisiest arena in the WNBA, against a
team making its playoff debut, the New York Liberty got off to a
perfect start.
The Liberty made their first five shots to take a 12-2 lead,
quieting the crowd and rattling the Washington Mystics. New York
then held off a late rally to beat the postseason newcomers 72-63
Saturday night in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
|  | | New York's Tari Phillips gets one of her eight field goals past Washington guard Nikki McCray. |
"The start killed us," Washington interim coach Darrell Walker
said. "They were flat. They lacked intensity. To get down 15, 16
points. We spent all our energy to get back into the basketball
game."
Vickie Johnson and Tari Phillips scored 20 points apiece for the
top-seeded Liberty, who will be home for Game 2 on Monday night.
Game 3, if necessary, will also be in New York, where the Liberty
have won 10 in a row.
A deafening crowd of 16,331, including part-owner Michael
Jordan, welcomed the Mystics on the floor. But the Liberty
dominated early, overcoming the fullcourt press to lead by as many
as 18 in the first half, and by 40-28 at halftime.
"It helped us tremendously to get out of the box early," New
York coach Richie Adubato said. "With this club, there is no lead
that is safe, because Darrell has them playing the way he used to
play."
The Mystics, spurred by some solid defensive stops, tied it at
53 on Nikki McCray's baseline drive for a layup with 5:45 to play.
Chamique Holdsclaw then gave Washington its first lead of the game
by drawing a foul and hitting two free throws on the next
possession.
Phillips then converted a 3-point play and followed with two
more free throws to put New York back ahead 58-55. Holdsclaw tied
it again by drawing the foul on a fast-break layup for a 3-point
play with 3:44 remaining, but Tamika Whitmore scored on the next
possession to put the Liberty back ahead for good.
Turnovers were a problem for the Mystics down the stretch as the
Liberty scored 10 of the game's final 12 points. McCray had seven
of Washington's 17 turnovers, and Holdsclaw had four.
Vicky Bullet led Washington with 22 points and five blocks.
McCray had 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Holdsclaw had 18 points
and eight rebounds.
"We've got nothing to lose," Walker said. "We're down 1-0.
We're going to press and press in New York City, the whole game.
They're going to have to beat us our way."
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ALSO SEE
WNBA Scoreboard
WNBA playoff schedule
RECAPS
Houston 72
Sacramento 64
New York 72
Washington 63
AUDIO/VIDEO
 New York's Becky Hammon goes baseline.
avi: 603 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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