After getting off to a slow start to the 2018 WNBA season, the defending WNBA Champions are starting to play and look like the Lynx of old.
In Minnesota’s 91-83 win over the Dallas Wings on Tuesday night at Target Center, the Lynx got back to doing what they do well: being scrappy on the defensive end while turning that into instant offense.
The Lynx started the game off strong, leading by as many as 21 points in the first half. Minnesota struggled in the fourth quarter but ultimately pulled away for the win.
“I thought we played some good basketball for certainly the first half. The third quarter was pretty good as well and then the fourth quarter, we just didn’t look very good,” said Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve, who recorded her 200th career win in the game. “I’m happy to be talking about this after a win. … We had some really good play at times.”
Minnesota was rolling in the first half, playing some of its best basketball of the season. The Lynx jumped out to an early 31-20 lead after the first quarter while stretching that lead to 15 points as they headed into halftime up 51-36.
With the game looking out of reach and the Lynx up 76-58 after three quarters, the Wings made a late comeback attempt that nearly paid off.
Dallas outscored Minnesota 25-15 in the fourth quarter and cut a once 21-point lead down to four with under a minute to go.
The Lynx were able to hold off the Wings to improve to 5-6 overall on the season.
Dallas dropped to 5-5 with the loss.
“In the fourth quarter, we need to continue to find a way to put offense and defense together and not give other teams momentum off of our offense and not executing,” Maya Moore said. “For the most part, we got shots we liked but it was about finishing them.”
Defensively, the Lynx held the Wings to shooting 46.7 percent from the field, while forcing Dallas into 22 turnovers.
On the offensive end, Minnesota got a little bit from everybody in the win, recording 23 assists on 29 field goals. The starters were the stars once again, led by an MVP-type performance from Moore with 21 points, seven assists and four rebounds.
Sylvia Fowles added 19 points, a career-high-tying five steals and 17 rebounds, her second-highest rebound total since she hauled in 20 against Dallas on May 23. Seimone Augustus added a nice performance of 16 points, while Rebekkah Brunson finished with an all-around performance of nine points, four rebounds and three assists.
“I think it was very competitive from start to finish. You have to tip your hat to Dallas for sticking in the game and staying with us,” Fowles said. “We got some things to clean up, but I’m definitely glad we got the win.”
The second unit provided a nice spark in relief of the starters, led by Danielle Robinson, who had a great first half and finished with 15 points and four assists while playing 26-plus minutes in relief of Lindsay Whalen.
The Lynx, now riding a two-game winning streak, are back in action at 9 p.m. Friday when they travel to take on the Phoenix Mercury.
“I told (the team), you can’t be on a win streak until you win two in a row,” Reeve said. “We’re officially on a win streak.”
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