Alexander Shun

Web Editor Associate | @alexpshun 

Losses are tough to handle, especially when they come right before the All-Star Break and in a game that a team could have won.

The Minnesota Lynx fell to the Connecticut Sun today 78-77 for just their fourth loss this season.

It’s not so much the loss that bothers the Lynx players and coaches, but rather the way they lost it.

Up by three in regulation with less than 10 seconds remaining, the Lynx had a defensive breakdown and allowed Sun guard Jasmine Thomas to get open for a 3-pointer to send the game to overtime and letting their chance to win in regulation slip away.

Despite committing five turnovers in the overtime period, the Lynx had a chance to win in overtime as well. Leading by two with less than 30 seconds to go, the Lynx once again had a defensive breakdown; Sun guard Alex Bentley hitting the 3-pointer this time to put the Lynx down a point. Minnesota had one more chance to win, but a runner by forward Maya Moore fell just short and the Lynx fell in defeat.

Moore finished the game with 25 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Her 25 points give her an eighth straight game scoring 20+ points, breaking the franchise record of seven that was previously held by Moore as well.

Lynx forward Rebekkah Brunson grabbed a double-double, finishing with 14 points and 15 rebounds, and also shone defensively, holding Sun forward Camille Little to just two points on 1-of-6 shooting (16 percent).

In her first game with the Minnesota Lynx this season, guard Renee Montgomery played just 12 minutes off the bench and scored four points while adding two assists.

Shekinna Stricklen led the Sun off the bench, scoring 15 points, while Bentley added 12 points and two assists.

LEADER OF THE PACK: MAYA MOORE

It is hard to overlook the gutty performance that Maya Moore gave today.

Down two All-Star guards in Lindsay Whalen and Seimone Augustus, Moore played all 45 mins of the game, scoring 25 points on 9-of-32 shooting (28 percent). Moore knew that she needed to carry the load for a depleted Lynx team and she did her best to do so, but simply could not her last shot to fall.

“In hindsight, yeah I might have slowed down a little bit, but it is what it is,” said Moore. “Yeah the spacing wasn’t the best in that situation but I’m fortunate to have the ability to make plays with the ball in my hand or off the ball…give me that shot again and I bet I’ll make it.”

The Lynx had many opportunities to win the game and unfortunately they slipped away, yet after her heartful performance today, nobody can say it was lack of effort on Moore’s part.

PLAY OF THE GAME

With time winding down in overtime, the Sun had the ball trailing by two points. After penetration in the lane, Sun guard Jasmine Thomas kicked the ball outside to a wide-open Alex Bentley who proceeded to nail a 3-pointer to give the Sun the lead. The shot would wind up being the game-winner as the Lynx could not respond.

QUOTEABLE

“We don’t make excuses, and that was a game that we should have won. You guys will talk about not having [Lindsay Whalen] and [Seimone Augustus] and [Monica Wright] and all that and that’s nothing to do with it. So I don’t want anyone to use that as an excuse,” Lynx Head Coach Cheryl Reeve talking about the absence of All-Star guards Lindsay Whalen and Seimone Augustus.

UP NEXT

With the All-Star Game this weekend, the Lynx have some time off now. Lynx forward Maya Moore and, depending upon the state of her hurt eye, Lynx guard Lindsay Whalen, will be heading to Connecticut for the All-Star Game.

The Minnesota Lynx will play next Wednesday night at home against the Los Angeles Sparks. The game will be broadcast on NBATV and FS North and will begin at 7:00 P.M. CT.