Lynx-Shock Preview

By MATT BEARDMORE
Posted Aug 22 2011 1:51PM

The Minnesota Lynx clinched their first playoff berth in seven seasons over the weekend, the first step toward what they hope will be a deep postseason run. A good step for the Tulsa Shock would be to win one game.

The WNBA-leading Lynx go for their sixth consecutive victory in this matchup when they visit the Shock, who are looking to end a league-record 18-game losing streak Tuesday night.

Seimone Augustus had 17 points and Candice Wiggins added 13 off the bench as Minnesota defeated Los Angeles 87-68 on Saturday, becoming the first team to secure a playoff spot.

The Lynx haven't been to the postseason since 2004, when they were swept by Seattle in the opening round.

"(Making the playoffs) isn't the goal," said coach Cheryl Reeve, whose team has won two in a row, each by 19 points. "For us it was a forgone conclusion that we were going to make the playoffs. We've got such bigger goals in mind but we do understand the excitement for the franchise because it hasn't been done very often."

Next up for the Lynx, who lost in the first round in their two playoff appearances in 2003 and '04, is securing home-court advantage throughout the postseason. Minnesota has a two-game edge in that race over Indiana.

The Shock (1-23) will be trying to rebound from yet another loss. The latest one, 73-67 to the Sparks on Sunday, was their 18th in a row to break Atlanta's league record set in 2008.

Tulsa blew a 15-point second-half lead, getting outscored 21-9 in the third quarter and 41-22 after the break.

The Shock have lost 10 straight at home, and breaking that streak could be difficult against the Lynx. Minnesota has won the last two matchups by an average of 29.0 points, rolling to a 101-71 victory June 30 in the lone meeting in Tulsa in 2011.

All-Star point guard Lindsay Whalen scored 13 of her 21 points in the second quarter of that game. She has averaged team highs of 16.3 points and 6.0 assists as Minnesota has gone 3-0 against the Shock this season.

Sheryl Swoops, who had 17 points Sunday - her most since June 11, 2008 - led the Shock with nine Aug. 14.

Minnesota's last season sweep of the Shock came in 2004, when they won both matchups.

Lynx top Shock to extend WNBA record skid to 19

Posted Aug 23 2011 11:22PM

TULSA, Okla. (AP) Taj McWilliams-Franklin scored 18 points to lead the Minnesota Lynx to a 78-72 win over Tulsa on Tuesday night, extending the Shock's WNBA record to 19 straight losses.

McWilliams-Franklin blocked Ivory Latta's jumper in the lane with 19.1 seconds remaining to help Minnesota hold off a late rally.

``When I spun on her I just knew I had her,'' Latta said. ``I didn't think her length was going to catch up with me but it did and she tipped the ball.''

Lindsay Whalen scored 14 points, Amber Harris had 13 and Seimone Augustus chipped in 12 for the Lynx.

Amber Holt scored 18 points, Tiffany Jackson added 13, and Sheryl Swoopes and Latta each scored 10 for the Shock, who fell to 1-24 this season.

``I came out with the mindset that we don't have anything to lose,'' said Holt, who was two points shy of her career high. ``We had our focus from the beginning to end tonight. We're getting closer.''

Tulsa trailed only 55-50 after three quarters but stumbled through two brief yet costly scoring droughts in the fourth. The Lynx broke off a 7-2 run to pull away and scored five unanswered points later in the quarter for a 12-point lead.

``The fans were great, especially at the end of the game when we were tired,'' Jackson said. ``They gave us energy to push through. We thought tonight might be the night. We just came up short, but we're getting there.''

• Lynx: --
• Shock: --

• Lynx: --
• Shock: --

• Lead Changes: 2
• Times Tied: 5

• Arena: BOK Center, Tulsa, OK
• Officials: #13 Cameron Inouye, #21 Byron Jarrett, #35 Billy Smith
• Attendance: 3750
• Duration: 1:53