Alexander Shun

Web Editor Associate | @alexpshun 

Minnesota Lynx (21-10) vs. New York Liberty (21-9) | 6:00 P.M. CT

WHERE TO WATCH: NBATV, FS North

WHERE TO LISTEN: 106.1 BOB FM

To be the best, you’ve got to beat the best. The Minnesota Lynx will look to beat the best team in the WNBA, the New York Liberty, when they face-off tonight in Minneapolis.

Having met just over a week ago in New York at world-famous Madison Square Garden, the Liberty got the better of the Lynx then, but now it’s Minnesota’s turn to get revenge and get a win on their home floor. With the potential win, the Lynx would reclaim the best record in the league and clinch the Western Conference over the Phoenix Mercury.

“We want to be best in the West,” said Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve on whether the team focuses on records at all. “We’re thinking about the last game we played, that is still fresh in our minds, so I think that’s first and foremost, but I think it’s okay and I told our players it’s okay to talk about. One more W gets us best in the West and that is a goal of ours.”

The Liberty can wrap up the Eastern Conference with a win tonight, as well as a Seattle Storm win over the Chicago Sky. Having watched the Liberty clinch a playoff berth against them in their last meeting, the Lynx will have extra motivation now to ensure the Liberty do not celebrate against them again, especially on Minnesota’s home-court.

The Lynx have won the last three contests against the Liberty at Target Center, four, if you count the preseason victory this year as well.

After dominant performances from forward Rebekkah Brunson (14 points, 11 rebounds) and center Sylvia Fowles (18 points, 14 rebounds, two steals and two blocked shots) on Friday night, the daunting Lynx frontcourt will look to carry that momentum and success into tonight’s game.

The winner of tonight’s game will leave Target Center with the best record in the league and become almost a sure-shot lock to take that title at the end of the season.

LAST MEETING

As was mentioned before, the Lynx and Liberty met just over a week ago in New York and the Liberty emerged victorious, defeating Minnesota 81-68.

It was a back-and-forth game, with the Liberty building a huge lead then the Lynx making a run and cutting the deficit. The Lynx were never able to sustain a long enough run or get enough stops though and the Liberty were able to hold on for the win.

Guard Epiphany Prince led New York with 22 points, four rebounds and two assists, while center Tina Charles finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Forward Maya Moore scored a game-high 25 points for the Lynx to go along with her nine rebounds and three assists. Center Sylvia Fowles had a great effort as well, notching a double-double and finishing with 18 points, 10 rebounds and two blocked shots in the loss.

KEY MATCH-UP: SYLVIA FOWLES VS. TINA CHARLES

Yes, this is the exact same match-up I pointed out the last time these two teams played and the warning rings true again tonight, especially with Fowles and Charles playing so well of late.

Fowles has been a double-double machine of late, notching a double-double in her last five games, including an 18 point, 14 rebound performance on Friday night against the Indiana Fever. As Fowles has continued to get more assimilated with her teammates and the playbook, she has continued to prove more and more dangerous. Fowles will need to be at her best tonight when the league’s fourth-leading scorer comes to town.

Charles has been stellar for New York this season, averaging 17.8 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists while leading the Liberty to the best record in the league.

Both players achieved double-doubles in their last meeting and provided quite a show for the New York fans; the Minnesota fans will be eager to see repeat performances from the dominant bigs and are sure to get their wish granted. With playoff positioning and conference titles on the line, both teams will be playing their hearts out and Fowles and Charles are going to be at the center (literally) of such efforts.

Charles got the better of Fowles in New York, now Fowles will aim to get the better of Charles here in Minnesota.

PROJECTED STARTERS

Lynx: PG – Montgomery, SG – Cruz, SF – Moore, PF – Brunson, C – Fowles

Liberty: PG – Wright, SG – Prince, SF – Cash, PF – Swords, C – Charles