AUBURN HILLS, MICH. ? Bill Laimbeer is hoping to become the next coach of the New York Knicks.

Until then, though, he’d like to figure out what’s wrong with his current squad.

On Friday, rookie Temeka Johnson scored 15 points, and DeLisha Milton-Jones added 13 for the Washington Mystics as they defeated Laimbeer’s slumping Detroit Shock, 69-55.

“There are moments where we don’t show up to play basketball, and this was one of them,” he said after his team dropped to 5-5 despite a 4-0 start.

The Mystics (6-6) won their third in a row and ended a three-game road losing streak.

Fever 57, Lynx 55

Indianapolis – Tamika Catchings scored a career-low two points but had six assists and four steals for Indiana. Minnesota’s Katie Smith, who had 17 points, missed a three-pointer at the buzzer.

Sun 61, Monarchs 50

Sacramento, Calif. – Taj McWilliams-Franklin had 15 points and 14 rebounds, Nykesha Sales added 14 points, and Connecticut pulled away.

Sparks 76, Storm 65

Los Angeles – Chamique Holdsclaw tied a season-high with 27 points and added 10 rebounds, leading Los Angeles. Tamika Whitmore added 16 points as the Sparks won for the fourth time in their last five games. Lauren Jackson led the Storm with 21 points.