Scouting Report | Lynx at Mercury

Mitchell Hansen
Web Editorial Associate
Twitter

9 p.m., Talking Stick Resort Arena
Where to Watch: Twitter
Where to Listen: 106.1 BOB FM 

The Minnesota Lynx aim to remain on top of the WNBA when they take on the Phoenix Mercury on Friday in Phoenix.

The Lynx enter the game at 13-2 overall and are in first place in the WNBA standings. The Mercury come in at 11-6 on the season and are in third place in the league.

Here are a few tidbits entering Friday’s game:

  • The game is Minnesota’s first Twitter game of the season. To learn more about how to tune into the game, click here.
  • Friday’s game is the first game of a home-and-home with the Mercury this season. Phoenix comes to Minnesota on Sunday.
  • The Lynx hold a two-game lead over the Los Angeles Sparks for best record in the WNBA.
  • Phoenix comes into the game holding a four-game winning streak. Minnesota is currently on a one-game losing streak.

Coming Off Of…

Minnesota is coming off of a 100-76 loss to the Chicago Sky on Saturday in Chicago.

Rebekkah Brunson had 22 points and four rebounds to lead the Lynx. Sylvia Fowles had 13 points, six rebounds and two blocks, Seimone Augustus had 10 points and two assists, Renee Montgomery had nine points and four rebounds and Maya Moore had eight points and three steals.

Phoenix is coming off of an 89-84 win Atlanta Dream on Wednesday in Phoenix.

Brittney Griner had 28 points and eight rebounds and Diana Taurasi had 20 points and three rebounds to lead the way for the Mercury. Leilani Mitchell had 13 points and five assists and Camille Little added nine points, 12 rebounds and six assists.

Last Matchup

Minnesota holds a 1-0 season series advantage over Phoenix this season. The last matchup came on June 30 in Phoenix, with Minnesota winning 91-83.

In that game, Moore had 21 points, six rebounds and five assists and Fowles had 17 points and eight rebounds to lead the Lynx. Lindsay Whalen had 14 points and four rebounds, Augustus had 11 points and three assists, Jia Perkins had nine points and five rebounds and Brunson added seven points and 10 rebounds.

For the Mercury, Little led the way with 16 points. Taurasi and Danielle Robinson had 15 points each, Yvonne Turner had 12 points and Stephanie Talbot added eight points and four rebounds.

Friday’s game is the second of four games between Minnesota and Phoenix. The third game comes on Sunday in St. Paul.

Key Matchup: Sylvia Fowles vs. Brittney Griner 

A key matchup to keep an eye on during Friday’s game comes in the post between Lynx center Sylvia Fowles and Mercury center Brittney Griner.

Fowles vs. Griner will feature two of the top three scorers in the league and two mid-season MVP candidates.

This season, Fowles is averaging 20.1 points (ranks 3rd in WNBA), 10 rebounds (2nd in WNBA), 1.9 blocks (3rd in WNBA), 1.7 assists and 1.6 steals (8th in WNBA) per game.

So far in 2017, Griner is averaging 22.8 points (1st in WNBA), 8.4 rebounds (6th in WNBA), 2.6 blocks (1st in WNBA) and 2.1 assists a game.

Injuries 

Phoenix: No injuries to report.

Minnesota: No injuries to report.

Projected Starters

Phoenix: PG – Robinson, SG – Taurasi, SF – Talbot, PF – Little, C – Griner

Minnesota: PG – Whalen, SG – Augustus, SF – Moore, PF – Brunson, C – Fowles