Alexander Shun

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Minnesota Lynx (3-1) vs. Los Angeles Sparks (0-2), 9:30 P.M., CST

WHERE TO WATCH: TWC SN, TWC D

WHERE TO LISTEN: 106.1 BOB FM

On Sunday night against the Mercury the Lynx suffered a reality check. They can in fact be beaten.

The Lynx have had their share of problems to this point, most notably the struggles shooting and the uncharacteristic amount of turnovers, but until Sunday night they had managed to overcome such problems. Not against the Mercury though.

Playing at home, and even more impressively, without All-Star center Brittney Griner, the Mercury convincingly beat the Lynx 81-66 and showed everyone that, despite early-season struggles of their own, they are still the defending champions.

The Lynx committed another 16 turnovers on Sunday night bringing their season average to a baffling 14 turnovers per game. The shooting struggles continued as well as the Lynx could only manage to shoot 24-of-67 (35.8%) from the field, including a disappointing 0-of-9 from beyond the arc. Despite such struggles, there were many positives for the Lynx on Sunday night.

Forward Asjha Jones, playing in just her second game of the young season, played 19 minutes while scoring six points to go with two rebounds and two assists.

Guard Seimone Augustus scored 17 points and grabbed six rebounds, while forward Maya Moore had her usual 17 points to go with her seven rebounds and four steals,

The season is still very young and with the immense veteran talent on the roster, correcting such errors shouldn’t be that difficult for the Lynx, and they will look to do so on Tuesday night against another struggling team: The Los Angeles Sparks.

The Sparks are winless in their first two games and that is due in large part to their struggles scoring.

Through their first two games, the Sparks are shooting 45-of-124 (36.4 percent) including a tough 9-of-40 (22 percent) from beyond the arc. They are also committing too many fouls, allowing opponents to shoot 18 free-throws per game against them.

Guard Alana Beard is leading the Sparks in scoring, averaging 15 points per game, while center Jantel Lavender is averaging a double-double through the first two games, scoring 11 points and grabbing 10.5 rebounds per game.

LAST MEETING

The Lynx and Sparks last met on August 13 last year in Target Center and it was a game of closure for both teams.

For the Lynx, it was a lesson in how NOT to close games, while the Sparks showed exactly how to close a game, especially with a playoff spot on the line.

The Lynx led 63-62 with just two minutes to play, but Los Angeles then went on a 9-0 run to close the game, which included a huge three-pointer from guard Kristi Toliver who finished the game with a game-high 29 points, including going 5-of-9 from beyond the arc, leading the Sparks to a 71-63 win over the Lynx.. Sparks forward Candace Parker added 16 points and 11 rebounds which included scoring 12 of her 16 points in the second half. With the victory, the Sparks clinched a playoff spot.

Lynx forward Maya Moore, who didn’t receive much help from her teammates, led the way, scoring 20 points while adding seven rebounds and two assists. The next closest scorer was forward Rebekkah Brunson with nine points.

The Lynx could only muster 34.4 percent shooting in the second half which included going just 2-of-9 from beyond the arc on the night.

KEY MATCHUP: SEIMONE AUGUSTUS VS. ALANA BEARD

This is going to be a fun matchup to watch.

Guard Alana Beard has been leading a struggling Spark’s team, averaging 15 points, just over four rebounds and just over two assists per game. Beard, a four-time All-Star, has been key for the Sparks thus far, getting huge baskets when they’re most needed. The Sparks may be winless but it is not for lack of effort or performance on Beard’s part.

Guard Seimone Augustus struggled early getting her shot to drop, but after a 6-of-12 shooting night on Sunday against the Mercury, Augustus seems to have her shot falling again. Augustus’ 14 points per game is good for third best on the team. She is also averaging just over four rebounds per game.

These two have faced one another plenty in the past so they’re far from strangers. Last season, Beard and Augustus faced-off and scored 18 and 14 points, respectively, in a game which included an almost two minute stretch during which the two guards took over and continued to trade baskets.

These two seemingly bring out great games from each other and Tuesday night will be no exception.

PROJECTED STARTERS

Lynx: PG – Whalen, SG – Augustus, SF – Moore, PF – Brunson, C – Dantas

Sparks: PG – Phillips, SG – Beard, SF – Lacy, PF – Lavender, C – Tolo