Alexander Shun

Web Editor Associate | Twitter 

When the Minnesota Lynx and Tulsa Shock opened the season at Target Center back on June 5, the Shock jumped out to an early lead, leading at one time by 16 points; however, they could not hold such a lead.

On Sunday night, it was the Lynx jumping out to an early lead, starting the game on a 9-0 run and even pushing the lead to 10 at one point. The Lynx would suffer the same fate the Shock did earlier, relinquishing their lead and eventually suffering a loss. The Lynx lost 86-78.

The Shock outscored the Lynx in the second quarter 23-15 to send the game to halftime tied at 38. In the second half, the two teams showed why they’re the best in the Western Conference and two of the best in the league, going up-and-down the floor and trading baskets for the rest of the game.

Late in the third quarter with the Lynx leading by three, Shock guard Skylar Diggins hit a three-pointer to tie the game. Lynx forward Maya Moore immediately responded with a triple of her own and it sparked a small 7-0 run to give the Lynx a seven point lead; Tulsa would not quit though, doing the majority of their scoring from the paint.

The Shock scored 46 points in the paints while out-rebounding the Lynx 36-31. The Shock also had the advantage in second-chance points, topping the Lynx 13-8.

“That’s what they do, they drive the paint,” said Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve. “They scored 48 points in the paint and that’s something we’re accustomed to protecting, particularly when you play these guys. Every team in the league knows where Tulsa is trying to put the ball and they penetrate to the paint and we didn’t provide much resistance in that area.”

Lynx forward Maya Moore echoed her coach’s thoughts.

“Their guards are very aggressive. They change directions, they hesitate, they’ve got great skill at getting to the rim and our recognition of getting in to help, in the fourth quarter especially, was just not going to get it done. If we want to be able to get out and go, we have to be able to crowd the paint and make them do something that they don’t want to do.”

The Shock came in to Sunday night’s game averaging 81.8 points per game, one of the best in the league, and Reeve said, defensively, the Lynx had no answers.

Offensively however, the Lynx did well.

Forward Rebekkah Brunson led the Lynx scoring 18 points and grabbing nine rebounds, while Moore had 16 points to go with eight rebounds and six assists. Forward Damiris Dantas came off the bench to score 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting while adding six rebounds and three assists.

The Lynx shot 30-of-60 (50 percent) from the floor but couldn’t stop Tulsa defensively, getting outscored in the fourth quarter 28-21.

LEADER OF THE PACK: DAMIRIS DANTAS

Lynx forward Damiris Dantas came off the bench to provide the team with a huge spark. When Dantas was in the game, her and Whalen ran the pick-and-roll multiple times with success. The rest that she provided veterans like Brunson and center Asjha Jones was huge as well. Dantas finished with 15 points, six rebounds and three assists.

“She got good opportunities and she caught it and finished,” said Reeve. “She just played tough, physically tough and she’s big and that was a bright spot for us tonight.”

NUMBERS GAME:

• The Lynx went 16-of 17 (94.1 percent) from the free-throw line while the Shock went 13-of 17 (76.5 percent)
• Despite scoring nine points in the first quarter, Lynx forward Maya Moore was held to just seven points through the final three quarters; her lowest total in the final three quarters this season.
• Shock guard Skylar Diggins scored 20 of her 26 points in the second half, including a huge three-pointer late in the fourth quarter to seal a Shock victory

PLAY OF THE GAME: 

With just under two minutes to go in the game and the Shock lead down to just four points, Diggins came off a screen at the top of the key and nailed a three-point jumper to put the Shock up by seven and secure their win.

“That three by Diggins, that was obviously the dagger,” said Brunson

QUOTEABLE:

“That [lack of defensive execution] was the story of the game. They did whatever they wanted to do whenever they wanted to do it and it was a defensive effort that, to say the least, I wasn’t happy with.” Lynx Head Coach Cheryl Reeve speaking about what the Lynx’s biggest problem was against Tulsa.

NEXT UP:

The Lynx will now travel to Seattle to take on the Storm on Thursday night. The game will start at 9:00 P.M. CST.