Minnesota has beaten the Dream seven straight times at home since a 91-77 loss on July 15, 2009. The Lynx look to complete a 3-0 season sweep of the Dream tonight. The June 10 110-78 victory was the Lynx largest ever vs. Atlanta as well as the biggest road win in franchise history.
Lynx Notes
Minnesota completed its run of four road games with Friday’s 82-75 win at Indiana, its 12th consecutive win over the Fever (3-0 this season) and ninth in a row at Bankers Life Fieldhouse dating back to 2007. Friday’s win ensures Minnesota will finish with the WNBA’s best record for the first time since 2013 and fourth time overall.
The Lynx win last night was the their 27th overall this season and 13th away from Target Center, both tying club single-season bests (27-7 in 2011 and 2011, 13-4 in 2011). The 13 road wins also equals the WNBA record.
At 27-6, Minnesota has registered its fifth 25-win campaign in the last six years and becomes the first WNBA franchise to win 27+ games in a season three separate times. The 13-4 finish on the road marks the sixth straight season the Lynx have put together a winning road record, the longest such success in league history. Los Angeles ran off five in a row from 2000 through 2004.
The Lynx shot 50.8% Friday at Indiana, the 11th time this season they’ve topped 50%, including the seventh in 17 games since July 7. The Lynx are 63-3 in that category since the start of the 2011 season. Additionally, in 12 of their last 14 contests, the Lynx are shooting 53.9% (131-for-243) and outscoring their opponents by +4.6 ppg (23.6-19.0) in the first quarter.
Minnesota collected 22 points from 18 Indiana turnovers, highlighted by swiping 12 steals for the second straight game. It’s the 14th time this season the Lynx have tallied 20+ points off turnovers and eighth time they’ve collected 10+ steals. They lead the WNBA in points off turnovers (18.0 per game) and are 12-1 when scoring 20 or more.
In winning 12 of their last 14, the Lynx are allowing just 37.6% (175-for-466) and 35.5 points in the second half. Minnesota has won 34 consecutive games when keeping the opposition below 40% from the floor (11-0 this season, 83-1 since the start of 2011).
Rebekkah Brunson pulled down a game-high nine rebounds, helping Minnesota register a 33-27 advantage on the glass, the 5thh time in 17 games they’ve held the edge. It’s the 13th time this season Brunson has been the team’s leader on the boards (124th in 206 games since arriving in Minnesota) and puts her within 14 of becoming the fifth player in WNBA history to collected 3000 rebounds in her career.
Rookie Keisha Hampton chipped in a season-high 13 points last night against Indiana. She finished 4-of-5 from three-point range; before last night she converted on just two of her prior 16 three pointers.
Dream Notes
The Dream will close out the regular season tonight in Minnesota and enters the game with a 6-10 record on the road, most recently losing 86-75 in Phoenix on Sept. 11.
Atlanta has clinched a berth to the 2016 WNBA Playoffs and currently sits as No. 5 seed. Atlanta is 17-16 – one game ahead of Indiana Fever but the Fever hold the tiebreaker advantage with the Dream. Chicago (18-15) is one game ahead of Atlanta in the No. 4 spot but Atlanta holds the tiebreaker edge over the Sky.
Atlanta’s leading scorer, Angel McCoughtry is averaging 24.1 points per game since returning from USA Basketball, including three 30-point or more efforts over her last five games. She has recorded 20+ points in 18 of the last 27 games overall and is averaging 19.5 points per game this season.
Elizabeth Williams has a total of 20 games with double-figure points and five games with 20+ points this season. She currently ranks second among league leaders in blocks (2.4) and fifth in rebounding (8.1 rpg). On the season, she has registered five double-doubles and is averaging 11.9 points per game.
