The Game
The Lynx didn’t have to wait long for an opportunity to take revenge on the Seattle Storm.
Last Friday the Storm stifled the Lynx’s offense to earn an 85-75 victory, and Sunday night Minnesota is out for payback. In last week’s game, Lynx forward Maya Moore was held to just 7 points on 2-of-9 shooting. However, if Moore’s last few games are any indication, things won’t be that easy for the Storm on Sunday.
Moore has been on fire lately—she’s scored over 30 points and shot over 50 percent from the field in two straight games.
The Lynx will need that type of a performance on Sunday if they want a chance to defeat the Storm. At 17-13, the Lynx sit in sixth place in the WNBA. Depending on what else happens around the league, Minnesota could find themselves as high as fifth or as low as seventh on Monday morning.
The Storm were the first team to clinch a playoff spot, and they still have a stronghold on the league’s No. 1 seed with a record of 23-8. They won’t be resting on their laurels, though, the Atlanta Dream are just two games behind them, and would love to make a push for that top spot.
What: Storm at Lynx
When: Sunday, August 12, 6 p.m. CT
Where: Target Center
Watch: ESPN3, Fox Sports North
Listen: Bob 106.1 FM
Getting Healthy
The Lynx have managed to stay relatively injury-free this season, but things have gotten a little shaky lately.
Danielle Robinson will miss Sunday’s contest as she nurses a high ankle sprain, and Rebekkah Brunson is still recovering from a concussion. The Lynx will need the rest of their team to step up and carry the squad while two of their biggest contributors recover.
The Lynx have been going small lately and starting Maya Moore at the power forward position with Cecilia Zandalasini at the three. Zandalasini’s scoring has been up and down, but she’s been playing well enough to allow coach Cheryl Reeve to continue to bring Erlana Larkins and Tanisha Wright off the bench, both of whom have been key contributors in the second unit.
Raining Points
The Storm have the best offense in the WNBA—it will be quite a task for the Lynx to slow them down.
Led by an MVP-caliber season from young forward Breanna Stewart and a breakout year from Natasha Howard, the Storm score more points, shoot a higher percentage from the field and from three, make more threes, and collect more assists than any other team in the league.
If they hold onto the No. 1 seed, it will be the first time since their 2010 title campaign that they’ve grabbed the top spot.
Though the Storm offense seems intimidating, the Lynx have a fairly good track record against the Seattle attack. When Minnesota and Seattle met in June, the Lynx held the Storm to just 79 points. Even in last Friday’s loss, the Lynx held the Storm below their season averages of 87.6 points per game.
To get the victory on Sunday, the Lynx’s offense will need to match their defense.
Projected Starting Lineups
Lynx: PG – Wright, SG – Augustus, SF – Zandalasini, PF – Moore, C – Fowles
Storm: PG – Bird, SG – Loyd, SF – Clark, PF – Stewart, C – Howard
Injury Report
Lynx: Rebekkah Brunson (concussion), and Danielle Robinson (ankle) are out.
Storm: No injuries to report.