Preseason Scouting Report | Lynx vs. Dream

Mitchell Hansen
Web Editorial Associate
Twitter

7 p.m., Xcel Energy Center
Where to Watch: No TV
Where to Listen: No Radio 

After nearly two weeks of training camp, preseason basketball is here for the Minnesota Lynx.

The Lynx will kick off the 2017 preseason schedule when they face the Atlanta Dream on Friday night at Xcel Energy Center.

The game, which will tip off at 7 p.m. in St. Paul, will be aired on 106.1 BOB FM.

Coming Off Of…

Tuesday’s game is the first game of the preseason for both the Lynx and Dream.

Minnesota will play in its second and final preseason game on May 8 against the Washington Mystics in Washington.

Atlanta wraps up its one-game preseason schedule against Minnesota on Tuesday.

Last Matchup

Minnesota swept Atlanta 3-0 in the season series last season. The last matchup between the two teams came on September 17 in Minnesota, where the Lynx came away with the 95-87 win.

In that game, Sylvia Fowles led the way for Minnesota with 30 points and eight rebounds. Maya Moore had 21 points and eight assists, Natasha Howard had 11 points and nine rebounds, Seimone Augustus had 10 points and six rebounds and Lindsay Whalen and Renee Montgomery each added eight points.

For Atlanta, Angel McCoughtry had 18 points, four rebounds and four assists to lead the way. Tiffany Hayes had 16 points and four assists, Bria Holmes had 15 points and Reshanda Gray and Elizabeth Williams each had 14 points for the Dream.

Minnesota and Atlanta will face each other three times this season, with the first game coming on July 28 in Atlanta.

Key Matchup: Sylvia Fowles vs. Elizabeth Williams 

One matchup to watch on Friday night will be between Minnesota’s Sylvia Fowles and Altanta’s Elizabeth Williams, both who have become forces in the paint for their teams.

Last season, Fowles ranked second on the Lynx in points per game, averaging 13.9 a contest. She also finished with 8.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.8 blocks per game.

Williams averaged 11.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and 1.2 assists a game for the Dream a season ago.

Injuries

Atlanta: McCoughtry (rest) is out.

Minnesota: Plenette Pierson (concussion) is questionable.

Projected Starters

Atlanta: PG – Clarendon, SG – Hayes, SF – Holmes, PF – Lyttle, C – Williams

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