Nolan, Smith carry Shock past Fever

Deanna Nolan scored 18 points and Katie Smith added 17 to help Detroit beat Indiana 68-56 in Indianapolis on Thursday night and take a 1-0 lead in its Eastern Conference playoff series.

Nolan was 9 for 11 from the field, constantly getting free for open jumpers at the top of the key. She scored six points during a key 13-0 run.

Tamika Catchings, who was named the WNBA’s top defensive player earlier in the day, led Indiana with 17 points, six rebounds and five assists. She hit four straight shots in the fourth quarter, rallying the Fever to 58-54 with 2:24 remaining.

But Smith hit a 3-pointer and Ruth Riley followed with a layup to counter a basket by Tamika Whitmore for a 63-56 lead with 1:11 to play, and the Fever got no closer.

Monarchs 93, Comets 78: At Houston, Kara Lawson scored a career playoff-high 18 points and Yolanda Griffith added 16 points as defending WNBA champion Sacramento beat Houston in the opener of their first-round playoff series.

DeMya Walker scored 15 and Lawson dished out eight assists for the Monarchs, who’ve won eight of nine playoff games since the start of last season’s title run.