Mitchell Hansen
Web Editorial Associate
Twitter
7 p.m., Xcel Energy Center
Where to Watch: Fox Sports North Plus
Where to Listen: 106.1 BOB FM, TuneIn Radio
The Minnesota Lynx return home to take on the Indiana Fever on Friday night at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
The Lynx come into the game at 21-5 overall and sit atop the WNBA standings. The Fever enter at 9-19 on the season and are in 11th place.
Here are three observations heading into Friday’s contest:
- The game is Breast Health Awareness Night, where the Lynx will auction off their commemorative pink uniforms postgame to raise money for the Lynx Foundation. The first 5,000 fans will also receive a branded water bottle.
- Minnesota comes in holding a two-game lead over the Los Angeles Sparks (20-8) for the best record in the WNBA.
- Including Friday’s game, the Lynx and Fever will play twice in the next two weeks. Minnesota and Indiana will play for the final time this regular season on Aug. 30 in Indiana.
Coming Off Of…
Minnesota is coming off of a 62-61 loss to the Seattle Storm on Wednesday in Seattle.
Maya Moore had 15 points and 11 rebounds and Sylvia Fowles had 13 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks for the Lynx. Seimone Augustus had nine points and four rebounds, Natasha Howard had eight points and four rebounds, Plenette Pierson had seven points and four rebounds and Renee Montgomery had six points and four assists.
Indiana is coming off of a 100-80 loss to the Washington Mystics on Saturday in the nation’s capital.
Candice Dupree had 26 points and eight rebounds and Erica McCall had 12 points and five rebounds to lead the Fever. Jazmon Gwathmey had 10 points and four rebounds, Erica Wheeler had eight points and eight assists and Natalie Achonwa had five points.
Last Matchup
Indiana holds a 1-0 season series advantage over Minnesota this season, winning the first contest of the season 84-82 on Aug. 6 in Indiana.
In that game, Moore led the Lynx with 28 points and six rebounds. Augustus had 16 points and four assists, Rebekkah Brunson had 15 points and 12 rebounds, Pierson had eight points and Fowles added six points and eight rebounds.
For the Fever, Dupree had 31 points and nine rebounds and Briann January had 14 points and six assists. Wheeler and Gwathmey had nine points each and Tiffany Mitchell added eight points and eight rebounds.
Friday’s game is the second of three games between Minnesota and Indiana this season. The final matchup will come on Aug. 30 in Indiana.
Key Matchup: Maya Moore vs. Erica Wheeler
One matchup to keep an eye on in Friday’s game will come between Minnesota’s Maya Moore and Indiana’s Erica Wheeler.
Through 26 games, Moore is averaging 16.8 points (12th in the WNBA), 5.6 rebounds (19th in WNBA), 3.5 assists (18th in WNBA) and 1.8 steals (2nd in WNBA) per game.
Through 28 games, Wheeler is averaging 11.4 points (2nd-best among Fever players), four assists, 2.2 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game.
Injuries
Indiana: Briann January (knee) is questionable. Shenise Johnson (knee) and Tiffany Mitchell (knee) are out.
Minnesota: Lindsay Whalen (left hand) is out. Brunson (ankle) is questionable.
Projected Starters
Indiana: PG – Dupree, SG – Coleman, SF – Wheeler, PF – Gwathmey, C – Achonwa
Minnesota: PG – Montgomery, SG – Augustus, SF – Moore, PF – Brunson, C – Fowles