Though their #1 ranking may be on a technicality, the Washington Mystics snatched the top spot in the Eastern Conference with a thrilling win over the New York Liberty Friday night. In tense fashion, the win wasn’t decisive. The Mystics leaked away a 12-point lead earlier in the game until New York moved ahead 73-74 in the ending minutes. But a final layup by Lindsey Harding with 8.8 seconds left, in a less than pristinely executed play, was just enough to earn the Mystics control over their playoff destiny.

The victory snapped New York’s 10-game winning streak and left a three-way tie for first place between Washington, New York and Indiana — all with records of 21-12. But because Washington holds a better head-to-head record with each of the other teams, the Mystics now sit with the #1 spot going into the last regular season game on Sunday. Needless to say, the Eastern competition is tight and tomorrow night’s game is pivotal.

“We control everything,” Harding said to the Washington Post. “That’s been the goal since the beginning. We want to finish first or second and get that home-court advantage. We play so well at home, it’s the biggest boost for all of us.”

The Atlanta Dream enters the final game with a 19-14 record and a lock in as the fourth seed in the East. However Atlanta is amidst a slide, having lost five out of their last six games.

Although tomorrow’s game will be played at 3 p.m. in Atlanta, playoff tickets for Round 1, Game 1 at the Verizon Center are now on sale.