Mitchell Hansen
Web Editorial Associate
Twitter
5 p.m., Bankers Life Fieldhouse
Where to Watch: Fox Sports North Plus, NBATV
Where to Listen: 106.1 BOB FM
The Minnesota Lynx look to extend their current seven-game winning streak when they travel to take on the Indiana Fever on Sunday in Indiana.
The Lynx come in at 20-2 overall and sit atop the WNBA standings. The Fever enter at 8-17 on the season and are in 11th place.
Here are a few tidbits entering Sunday’s game:
- This is the first game of a two-game road trip for the Lynx, who will play in Atlanta on Tuesday before turning home.
- Minnesota holds a three-game lead over the Los Angeles Sparks (18-6 overall) for the best record in the WNBA.
- The Lynx magic number to clinch homecourt advantage in the semifinals of the WNBA Playoffs is at five.
Coming Off Of…
Minnesota is coming off of a 69-54 win over the Atlanta Dream on Thursday in St. Paul.
The Lynx, who outscored the Dream 23-2 in the fourth quarter to comeback and win, were led by Sylvia Fowles with 25 points, 13 rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Maya Moore had 15 points, five rebounds and five steals, Lindsay Whalen finished with eight points, four rebounds and three assists, Rebekkah Brunson had eight points and six rebounds and Renee Montgomery finished with five points, seven assists and three steals in the game.
Indiana is coming off of an 81-70 loss to the Chicago Sky on Friday in Indiana.
Candice Dupree had 18 points and six rebounds and Natalie Achonwa added 14 points to lead the Fever. Tiffany Mitchell had 11 points and seven rebounds, Jazmon Gwathmey had 10 points off the bench and Briann January added seven points and eight assists.
Last Matchup
Minnesota held a 3-0 season series advantage over Indiana last season. The last game came on Sept. 16 in Indiana, with Minnesota winning 82-75.
In that game, Moore had 15 points and Keisha Hampton had 13 points off the bench to lead the way for the Lynx. Renee Montgomery and Fowles had 10 points each, Natasha Howard had eight points and six rebounds, Janel McCarville had eight points and three assists and Rebekkah Brunson had seven points and nine rebounds.
For Indiana, Marissa Coleman had 19 points and five rebounds, Tamika Catchings had 11 points and four rebounds, Shenise Johnson had 10 points and three assists and Briann January and Lynetta Kizer had eight points each.
Thursday’s game is the first of three games between the two teams this season. The next matchup will come on Aug. 18 in St. Paul.
Key Matchup: Rebekkah Brunson vs. Candice Dupree
Like it is in most games, Minnesota’s Rebekkah Brunson will have the task of slowing down the opposing teams top scorer. On Sunday, it will be Indiana’s Candace Dupree.
So far in 2017, Brunson is averaging 10.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists and one steal per game.
Dupree, in her 12th WNBA season, is averaging 14 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 0.8 steals a game.
Injuries
Indiana: Shenise Johnson (knee) is out.
Minnesota: Whalen (left hand) is out.
Projected Starters
Indiana: PG – Wheeler, SG – January, SF – Mitchell, PF – Dupree, C – Achonwa
Minnesota: PG – Montgomery, SG – Augustus, SF – Moore, PF – Brunson, C – Fowles