Fever-Lynx Preview

By MATT BECKER
Posted Jun 25 2011 10:58PM

A sluggish start proved to be too much for the Minnesota Lynx to overcome in their last contest. Their longest winning streak in three years came to an end as a result.

Returning to Minnesota could help the Lynx bounce back.

Minnesota looks to open 4-0 at home for the first time in franchise history Sunday when it faces the Indiana Fever.

After jumping out to a 19-point, first-quarter lead in last Sunday's 77-64 win over Atlanta, the Lynx (5-2) were limited to eight points while shooting 2 of 15 and turning the ball over six times in the first period of Friday's 65-55 loss to Seattle. Despite the awful start, Minnesota cut the Storm's lead to two after three quarters but couldn't complete the comeback and saw its winning streak end at five.

"We lacked a lot of energy, I think and they jumped out early,'' said Seimone Augustus, who had a team-high 17 points. "They jumped out early, had the fans behind them, and they played with a lot of energy and we never did quite get going.''

Rebekkah Brunson and Maya Moore seemed to struggle the most.

Brunson finished with two points and seven rebounds, ending a league record-tying six-game double-double streak to start the season. Brunson, who leads the league in rebounding at 12.4 per game, could have tied Lauren Jackson's league record set in 2003.

Moore was limited to career lows of four points and one rebound and fouled out in 19 minutes.

As disappointing as that performance was for the Lynx, there's reason to believe they'll be able to avoid losing back-to-back games for the first time this season.

Minnesota is averaging 85.7 points in three home games, winning all of them by an average of 12.7 points. The Lynx, who went 7-10 at home last year, also won their first three games at the Target Center in 2008, but have never started a season 4-0 at home.

Their offense should also have better luck getting in rhythm against an Indiana team allowing an average of 80.3 points in its four road games.

The Fever (5-3) defeated Connecticut 75-70 on Saturday, moving them past the Sun and into first place in the Eastern Conference.

Connecticut had a chance to tie the score in the final seconds, but Tamika Catchings stole the ball from Renee Montgomery in a scramble under the basket and the Fever scored at the other end.

Catchings finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds for her 70th career double-double, and Tammy Sutton-Brown, coming off the bench for the first time this year, scored 12 to help Indiana's reserves outscore Connecticut's 31-6.

"Once we get our running game going, it's a lot easier for us,'' Sutton-Brown said.

Sutton-Brown averaged 13.0 points as the Fever and Lynx split their two meetings last season, while Catchings averaged 22.0 points and 10.0 rebounds.

Fever 78, Lynx 75

Posted Jun 26 2011 9:23PM

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Katie Douglas scored 22 points, including the go-ahead basket with just over a minute to play, to help the Indiana Fever beat the Minnesota Lynx 78-75 Sunday.

Tamika Catchings added 17 for Indiana, while Maya Moore led Minnesota with 21 points.

The Lynx held a six-point lead in the fourth quarter, but Douglas and Catchings hit 3s on back-to-back possessions to tie the score at 67 with 5:37 left.

The teams traded baskets until Douglas hit a running jump shot from the free-throw line to put Indiana on top 75-73 with 1:06 to go. She later hit one of two free throws to build the Fever lead to three with 20 seconds left.

• Fever: --
• Lynx: --

• Fever: Zellous
• Lynx: --

• Lead Changes: 15
• Times Tied: 11

• Arena: Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
• Officials: #39 Michael Price, #28 Angelica Suffren, #18 Kurt Walker
• Attendance: 7117
• Duration: 1:55