Mitchell Hansen
Web Editorial Associate
Twitter
9 p.m., Talking Stick Resort Arena
Where to Watch: Fox Sports North Plus
Where to Listen: 106.1 BOB FM
The Minnesota Lynx look to build onto their hot start to the 2017 season when they take on the Phoenix Mercury on Friday night in Phoenix.
The Lynx enter with a WNBA-best record of 11-1 overall. The Mercury come in at 7-5 on the season and are tied for fourth place in the WNBA standings.
Here are three tidbits entering Friday night’s game:
- The Lynx hold a 1.5 game lead over the Los Angeles Sparks (10-3) for the best record in the WNBA.
- Both Minnesota and Phoenix come into the game winners in two of their last three games.
- Friday night’s game is Diana Taurasi night in Phoenix. Taurasi became the WNBA’s all-time scoring leader on June 18 against the Sparks.
Coming Off Of…
Minnesota is coming off of an 87-78 win over the San Antonio Sparks on Sunday in St. Paul.
Sylvia Fowles had 22 points and 10 rebounds and Maya Moore added 22 points and four rebounds to lead the way for the Lynx. Lindsay Whalen had 13 points, four rebounds and four assists, Seimone Augustus had 12 points and five assists, Natasha Howard had eight points and four rebounds and Rebekkah Brunson added four points and 10 rebounds.
Phoenix is coming off of an 85-82 win over the Seattle Storm last Friday in Seattle.
Brittney Griner had 25 points, nine rebounds and three rebounds and Taurasi had 25 points and four assists to lead the Mercury. Danielle Robinson had 10 points and four rebounds, Yvonne Tuner had nine points off the bench and Camille Little added six points, seven rebounds and three steals.
Last Matchup
Friday’s game is the first game between Minnesota and Phoenix this season. The last matchup between the two teams came on June 7 of last season. The Lynx came away with an 89-81 win in that game.
Fowles and Moore led the way for Minnesota in that game. Fowles had 21 points and eight rebounds and Moore finished with 21 points, six rebounds and four assists. Renee Montgomery had 18 points, Brunson had 12 points, nine rebounds and four assists and Jia Perkins had 11 points off the bench.
For Phoenix, Griner and DeWanna Bonner each had 14 points. Taurasi and Sonja Petrovic each added 12 points, Mistie Bass had nine points and six rebounds, Candice Dupree had seven points and eight rebounds and Noelle Quinn had seven points off the bench.
The Lynx and Mercury will face off four times this season, with the next game coming on July 14 in Phoenix.
Key Matchup: Sylvia Fowles vs. Brittney Griner
The key matchup to watch out for in Friday night’s game will come between two of the best players in the WNBA so far this season in Lynx center Sylvia Fowles and Mercury center Brittney Griner.
Fowles enters the game near the top of the league in numerous categories. She is averaging 21 points (2nd in WNBA), 10.3 rebounds (2nd in WNBA), two assists, 1.9 steals (3rd in WNBA) and 1.9 blocks (3rd in WNBA) per game.
Like Fowles, Griner is also having a nice start to the season. She is averaging a league-best 23.1 points, 8.1 rebounds (7th in WNBA), 2.4 blocks (1st in WNBA), 2.1 assists and 0.8 steals 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