Lynx 85 (2-1) – Silver Stars 67 (1-2)
MENZIE HENDERSON
Lynx Writer
Box ScoreHow it Happened
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For Seimone Augustus and the Minnesota Lynx, it was decided it’s far too early to clean out the lockers at Target Center. The unforgettable ride of 2011 will continue.
With an 85-67 victory on their home floor over the San Antonio Silver Stars on Tuesday night, the Lynx move on to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history.
The Lynx ran away with the lead in the second half of the elimination Game 3, but had fans worried momentarily in the opening minutes.
The Silver Stars stormed out of the gates with a 10-2 lead to force an early Lynx timeout. Minnesota appeared sluggish defensively -- struggling to rotate on the perimeter and failing to defend the pick-and-roll attack once again.
But after the timeout, a fire was lit under Minnesota. The defensive tenacity and the energy was back -- something that was missing in the first two contests. Lynx players were hyped up and diving on the floor for loose balls, and back to turning their lockdown defense into their deadly uptempo attack. The Silver Stars were forced into 17 turnovers that led to 24 Lynx points.
“After the first timeout, we talked about how in Game 2 we were lethargic and just going through the motions and things like that,” Augustus said. “When we came out of that huddle, we knew we were going to make a run and put the pressure on them early.”
Minnesota reeled off a 22-3 run in the second quarter to build a 35-22 lead and from that point on, it was evident the Lynx were not allowing a first round upset. The domination was back.
Leader of the Pack
Just as she has done the entire series, Seimone Augustus led the Lynx offensively and continued to thrive in her first playoff experience of her six-year WNBA career. Augustus demanded the ball and her teammates happily supplied the hot-hand with the rock the whole night. Augustus caught fire early and did not let up, finishing with a game-high 22 points on 10-of-16 from the floor. “Seimone has been a stud. She has been an absolute stud,” Coach Reeve said. “She has this look about her that makes me feel so good knowing she is on my side.”
Notable Performance
After scoring a total of 16 points the first two games of the series, the Lynx post duo of Rebekkah Brunson and Taj McWilliams-Franklin combined to score Minnesota’s first 12 points of the game. With huge scoring contributions from the post, the Lynx got back to being a complete team with an effective inside-out offensive approach. Minnesota established a presence in the post early and finished to outscore the Silver Stars 46-20 in the paint. McWilliams-Franklin poured in 16 points, while Brunson ended with 15.
Rookie Report
Maya Moore continued her consistent play this series with 14 points, six rebounds, and four assists added tonight. Moore was most effective in transition, where she filled the lanes with speed and finished with strength.
The Numbers Game
Lindsay Whalen scored just four points tonight, but found ways to lead her team in other categories. The point guard got everyone involved offensively, and also played aggressive defense on the San Antonio guards by recording four steals.
Looking Ahead
 GAME 2: Silver Stars 84 - Lynx 75 | Game Recap GAME 3: Lynx 85 - Silver Stars 67 | Game Recap |
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