Alexander Shun

Web Editor Associate | @alexpshun 

Minnesota Lynx (18-7) vs. Washington Mystics (14-9) | 7:00 P.M. CT

WHERE TO WATCH: No TV

WHERE TO LISTEN: 106.1 BOB FM

There’s no place like home.

The Minnesota Lynx have been very good at home, posting a 10-2 record thus far and winning their last four home contests by an average of almost 11 points; let’s hope that success continues tonight.

The Lynx will look to avenge their loss suffered to the Washington Mystics on Sunday afternoon in Washington by beating the Mystics, this time on their home floor in Minnesota. The Lynx have not lost to the Mystics in Minnesota since an August 8 contest in 2013.

While Washington may have gotten the better of Minnesota on Sunday, the Lynx have reason for confidence.

All-Star guard Seimone Augustus is healthy once again and, after two games back with the team, finally seems to be shaking off the last of the rust. Center Sylvia Fowles has been dominant in her last three games, averaging 16 points, 7.6 rebounds and 2.3 blocks. Fowles is commanding the glass and seemingly returning to her two-time defensive player of the year form.

If they can gain their chemistry and rhythm and gain it quickly, the Lynx will be a truly terrifying match-up for any team that has to face them, especially a team trying to make a bid for a playoff spot; a team like the Mystics, for example.

The Mystics are 14-9 and sit tied with the Indiana Fever for second in the Eastern Conference and will look to sustain that position with a victory over the Lynx tonight.

But the Lynx are a smart team, and they know what they have to do to get the better of Washington tonight.

“The Washington situation, we got beat a lot in transition (on) a lot of drag screens and stuff. That’s been the thing we’ve been struggling with since we made all these moves,  is getting everybody on the same page; defensively, in transition that’s been the main thing,” said Lynx assistant coach Jim Petersen. “Whether it’s been people just beating us straight down the floor for lay-ups, or, whether it’s just in pick-and-roll game; middle of the floor, wing picks, drag screens in transition, we’ve had a hard time getting matched up.”

Defense has been the focus all week in practice for Minnesota and Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve even went so far as to call a meeting with Lynx team captains to ensure that everyone is aware of their responsibility and keeping the championship mentality necessary to win titles.

Yes, the Mystics are a good team and, right now, they’re a desperate team, pushing hard to grab a playoff spot. As we saw on Sunday, the Lynx will definitely be challenged, but with a better defensive effort and a raucous home crowd behind them, the Lynx are hoping that their run of home wins can continue tonight.

LAST MEETING

Well these two teams are pretty familiar with each other. Despite tonight being just their second and final meeting this season, the Lynx and Mystics last played on Sunday afternoon and the Mystics emerged victorious, winning 77-69.

In a game where the Lynx just couldn’t get stops and then, when they did get stops, their offense struggled, the Lynx got big performances from Fowles and guard Lindsay Whalen. Fowles finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds while Whalen finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds in the loss.

The star of the game was Mystics guard Ivory Latta who came off the bench to score 20 points in just 23 minutes.

I know especially for me, my teammates were giving me the confidence,” said Latta. “I mean I have to give all the credit to my post players…They were setting great screens and they give me all the confidence in the world for sure.”

Center Kara Lawson added 15 points, four rebounds and two steals for Washington while center Stefanie Dolson added 12 points and seven rebounds in the Mystics’ victory.

KEY MATCH-UP: SYLVIA FOWLES VS. STEFANIE DOLSON

Mystics guard Ivory Latta was a stone-cold killer for the Lynx on Sunday, dropping a game-high 20 points on them. However, I think everyone knew that Washington’s guards were going to score, and score in bunches at that, but it was center Stefanie Dolson who quietly made the difference for the Mystics.

Sure she may have had only 12 points and seven rebounds, but Dolson played great defense (most times) and made things difficult for Minnesota’s frontcourt. Dolson even stepped out and hit both three-pointers she attempted (now for a center, that is pretty dang impressive). Dolson’s ability to stretch the defense while still creating traffic in the paint makes her a true threat, even though she may not put up the spectacular stat-lines.

Center Sylvia Fowles continued to show Lynx fans why Minnesota did everything they could to trade for her. Fowles has been spectacular in her last three games, and with guard Seimone Augustus back healthy stretching the defense, Fowles should have plenty of room to operate in the paint, becoming even more dominant.

I’m sure that many Lynx fans will question this match-up, seeing as Washington only mustered 18 points in the paint in their previous meeting and Fowles was fantastic, but trust me, this match-up will make all the difference.

The Lynx have thrived when they control the paint and after seeing what Fowles did in her last meeting with the Mystics, there will be no hesitation in feeding Fowles the ball early and often. Dolson is going to have her hands full and will have to play solid defense if Washington hopes to keep Fowles from running away with the game herself.

Fowles and Dolson both had great games on Sunday and will surely provide fans repeat performances.

PROJECTED STARTERS

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

Mystics: PG – Cloud, SG – Latta, SF – Ruffin-Pratt, PF – Lawson, C – Dolson