Mitchell Hansen
Web Editorial Associate
Twitter
2 p.m., Madison Square Garden
Where to Watch: NBATV, WNBA League Pass
Where to Listen: 106.1 BOB FM, TuneIn Radio
The Minnesota Lynx hit the road to take on the New York Liberty on Sunday at Madison Square Garden in New York.
The Lynx enter the game at 22-5 on the season and are in first place in the WNBA standings. The Liberty come in at 16-12 overall and are sitting in fourth place in the standings.
Here are a few tidbits entering Sunday afternoon’s game:
- Minnesota’s magic number for clinching homecourt advantage in the semifinal round of the WNBA playoffs sits at two prior to Sunday’s game. The number to clinch No. 1 overall seed is at five.
- The Lynx hold a two-game lead over the Los Angeles Sparks (21-8 overall) for the best record in the WNBA.
- New York holds the longest active winning streak in the WNBA with a four-game winning streak. The Liberty and Lynx are both 7-3 in their last 10 games.
Coming Off Of…
Minnesota is coming off of a historical 111-52 win over the Atlanta Dream on Friday night in St. Paul.
Sylvia Fowles led the way for the Lynx, tallying 25 points and six rebounds. Renee Montgomery had 20 points (including five threes), Jia Perkins had 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists, Maya Moore had 11 points, four rebounds and four assists, Seimone Augustus had 10 points, eight assists and three rebounds, Plenette Pierson had 10 points, 6 rebounds and four assists, Natasha Howard had six points and seven rebounds, Alexis Jones had eight points and four assists and Temi Fagbenle added six points and three rebounds.
New York is coming off of an 82-70 win over the Connecticut Sun on Friday in Connecticut.
Tina Charles had 24 points and seven rebounds to lead the Liberty. Sugar Rodgers had 13 points and five rebounds and Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe had 12 points both coming off the bench. Bria Hartley had 11 points and three rebounds and Epiphanny Prince added seven points.
Last Matchup
Minnesota holds a 2-0 season series advantage over New York this season, with Minnesota coming away with a 76-75 win in the last matchup on July 25 in St. Paul.
In that game, Moore had 27 points and five rebounds and Fowles had 18 points and nine rebounds to lead the Lynx. Lindsay Whalen had 12 points and two assists, Pierson had seven points and five rebounds and Augustus added six points and three assists.
For the Liberty, Charles had 24 points and 16 rebounds and Prince had 19 points and five rebounds to lead the way. Rebecca Allen had eight points and four rebounds and Shavonte Zellous and Hartley each added seven points.
Sunday’s game is the third and final game between Minnesota and New York during the regular season.
Key Matchup: Sylvia Fowles vs. Kia Vaughn
One matchup to keep an eye on in Sunday’s game will come between Minnesota’s Sylvia Fowles and New York’s Kia Vaughn.
So far in 2017, Fowles is having a MVP-calibar season. In 27 games, she is averaging 20.4 points (2nd in WNBA), 10.1 rebounds (2nd in WNBA), 2.1 blocks (3rd in WNBA), 1.4 assists and 1.3 steals (14th in WNBA) per game.
Vaughn is averaging 5.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game so far this season.
Injuries
New York: Brittany Boyd (Achilles), Shoni Schimmel (personal) and Tanisha Wright (personal) are out.
Minnesota: Whalen (left hand) and Brunson (left ankle) are out.
Projected Starters
New York: PG – Prince, SG – Hartley, SF – Zellous, PF – Charles, C – Vaughn
Minnesota: PG – Montgomery, SG – Augustus, SF – Moore, PF – Pierson, C – Fowles