Sparks-Lynx Preview (AP)
Sparks-Lynx Preview (AP)
Just like last season, the Minnesota Lynx entered the All-Star break on a positive note. One major difference is their current spot in the standings. The Lynx will try to remain atop the Western Conference after a visit from the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday night. Minnesota earned its third straight win Wednesday, 106-98 in Phoenix to move one-half game ahead of the Mercury atop the West. Seimone Augustus, one of the Lynx’s league-high four All-Stars, matched a season high with 25 points and has averaged 19.6 over the last five games – nearly four points above her team-best season average of 15.9. Minnesota (10-4) won four of six entering last year’s All-Star break, but its overall mark was 6-11 en route to a sixth consecutive postseason absence. No. 1 overall draft pick Maya Moore, averaging 14.2 points this season, and fellow All-Stars Rebekkah Brunson and Lindsay Whalen appear primed to help the Lynx end their drought. Brunson is averaging a career-best 13.4 points and a league-leading 10.8 rebounds, and scored 20 points in the All-Star Game. Whalen is contributing a career-high 5.9 assists per game and averaging 13.9 points – just shy of her career-best 14.0 average with Connecticut in 2008. “We just have to stay focused,” Moore said. “I think it’s a really special year for us. We have the pieces that we need for a championship team. It’s just a matter of locking in.” All four Minnesota All-Stars scored in double figures, led by Augustus’ 17 points, in an 86-69 home win over the Sparks (6-8) on June 5. Amber Harris – this year’s No. 4 overall draft pick – and Monica Wright chipped in 11 apiece off the bench as the Lynx snapped an eight-game skid in the series and avoided a home-and-home sweep. Minnesota had trouble with Los Angeles star Candace Parker in the season opener June 3, as she had 19 points and 10 rebounds in the Sparks’ 82-74 win. The All-Star forward, though, is currently out with a torn right meniscus and not expected to return until sometime next month. The Sparks have dropped two in a row after winning their first two games under new coach Joe Bryant. After blowing a 24-point lead to Washington on July 17, Los Angeles couldn’t complete a rally from an early 15-point deficit and fell 79-69 to San Antonio the following day. The Sparks drew within a point with 9:20 remaining, but made one basket and one free throw over the next 5:43. “You never want to lose at home,” guard Natasha Lacy said. “We have to get more victories wherever we play.” Los Angeles’ combined for 15 points in the loss to the Silver Stars. Tina Thompson, the WNBA’s career leader with 6,546 points, was held scoreless for the first time in 413 regular-season games. Thompson is averaging 13.0 points in the season series with Minnesota.
