Alexander Shun

Web Editor Associate | Twitter 

Minnesota Lynx (11-3) vs. Tulsa Shock (10-6) | 3:30 P.M. CT

WHERE TO WATCH: No TV

WHERE TO LISTEN: 106.1 BOB FM Winning streaks are the best, especially when they end another team’s winning streak. Coming off a Friday night win over the Chicago Sky, a game that saw the Sky’s four-game winning streak come to a screeching halt, the Minnesota Lynx will now look to end another winning streak tonight when they take on the Tulsa Sky.

The Shock are currently in the midst of a two-game losing streak, that’s not the winning streak Minnesota would end; they would bring to an end Tulsa’s seven-game home winning streak.

The Shock have not lost in Tulsa since August 2 of last year when…Well, would you look at that, the LYNX beat them 84-75; a result they would like to see repeated tonight. If any team in the WNBA could end such a streak, the Lynx have the best chance to do so.

Minnesota is the hottest team in the league, riding a three-game winning streak into this afternoon’s game, and they also currently have the league’s best record at 11-3. Oh, and did I mention they have the league’s hottest scorer as well? They do, it’s forward Maya Moore.

Moore has been nothing short of unstoppable her last six games, averaging 24.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists. Moore has moved into third on the league’s scoring leaders list  for the season, averaging 19.6 points per game now and will look to add another 20+ point performance to an already impressive season resume.

Both teams do enter the game having been bit by the injury bug though.

The Shock will be without All-Star guard Skylar Diggins after she tore her ACL at the beginning of the month, while the Lynx will be without All-Star guard Seimone Augustus after she underwent an arthroscopy on her right knee last week. Due to injuries to such key players, it will obviously be important to have depth, something the Lynx showed they definitely have last Friday night.

After hearing the news that Augustus was out, guard Anna Cruz got her first start in a Lynx uniform and did not disappoint.

Cruz played extremely well on both ends of the floor, shutting down the Sky’s high-scoring guard Cappie Pondexter on one end of the floor, and pouring in 16 points on the other end.

If Cruz can play as well this afternoon as she did on Friday night, the Lynx should seemingly have no trouble rolling to their fourth-straight victory.

LAST MEETING

Tulsa and Minnesota last met a little less than a month ago, and they faced-off in a battle for sole-possession of first place in the Western Conference.

Playing in Minnesota, the Lynx had a raucous home-crowd advantage, but the un-phased Shock stayed focused and stayed aggressive and eventually handed the Lynx a loss, winning 86-78.

The Shock got great penetration on a usually tough Lynx defense and finished with 46 points in the paint, a season-high for Minnesota.

Guard Skylar Diggins led Tulsa, scoring a game-high 26 points while dishing eight assists. Shock center Courtney Paris grabbed a double-double, finishing with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

Forward Rebekkah Brunson did her best to fuel Minnesota, scoring 18 points and grabbing nine rebounds, while forward Maya Moore played side-kick, pitching in 16 points, eight rebounds and sx assists, but it was not enough.

KEY MATCHUP: SHOCK DEPTH VS. LYNX DEPTH

As previously mentioned, both teams will be without All-Star guards for this afternoon’s game, and replacing such players will not be easy.

Shock guard Skylar Diggins was having a career-year before a torn ACL ended her season. Diggins was averaging 17.8 points (best on the team) and five assists (also best on the team). Such production will be extremely hard to replace. Guards Brianna Kiesel and Riquna Williams will need to play well and make-up for the lost production.

For the Lynx, they will be without All-Star guard Seimone Augustus after she underwent an arthroscopy on her knee last week. Filling-in for Augustus will also be quite a challenge. Augustus was averaging 15.4 points per game, good for second on the team. To make matters worse, Lynx bench guard Monica Wright will also miss this afternoon’s game after she underwent an arthroscopy on her knee last week as well. So who is left?

Guard Anna Cruz, who played extremely well in replace of Augustus on Friday night, will start in her place once again, while guard Jenifer O’Neil has also played well off the bench thus far, despite seeing just seven minutes of playing time per game this season.

Whichever team can find that depth and make-up for the loss of their respective All-Star, could very well set the tone in the Western Conference and make for an exciting and close race for the rest of the season.

PROJECTED STARTERS

Lynx: PG – Whalen, SG – Cruz, SF – Moore, PF – Brunson, C – Jones

Shock: PG – Williams, SG – Sims, SF – Christmas, PF – Christmas, C – Paris