Bouncing back - Pioneer Press

LYNX 92, MYSTICS 75 >> NEXT: VS. GOLDEN STATE, 7 P.M. SATURDAY, FDSN

Bouncing back

Collier scores 28, Lynx earn a win after Tuesday’s disappointing loss to Indiana

Lynx forward Alanna Smith moves toward the hoop while Jade Melbourne of the Washington Mystics defends during the first quarter on Thursday at Target Center in Minneapolis. ELLEN SCHMIDT — GETTY IMAGES

Washington Mystics guard Brittney Sykes, left, and Lynx guard Courtney Williams, right, battle for possession of the ball during the second half of Thursday’s game in Minneapolis. ABBIE PARR — ASSOCIATED PRESS

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By Mike Cook

Special to the Pioneer Press

A key for the Lynx entering Thursday’s game was being strong defensively, especially in the paint.

Minnesota struggled with that early before finding its groove on both ends of the court en route to a 92-75 win over Washington at Target Center.

Napheesa Collier scored 18 of her 28 points in the second half. She was named June’s Western Conference Player of the Month earlier in the day, her second straight month with the honor.

Three other Lynx starters finished in double figures: Alanna Smith, Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams each had 10 points. Williams added eight assists, grabbed six rebounds and also had five steals, all team highs.

“It’s so hard for the defense to guard us because you guard me, Courtney’s going to score. You guard Courtney, she’s going to give her dimes. Having a scoring point guard like this and someone who can make those right reads, I mean, like, it’s impossible to guard,” Collier said.

The Lynx had a season-low six turnovers, three combined in the final three quarters. Williams had just one after a career-worst 10 when the Mystics beat Minnesota 68-64 on June 24. The Lynx scored 28 points off 20 Washington turnovers on Thursday.

“It allowed us to get 20 more shot attempts and we did outrebound them offensively by two, which is hard to because they’re pretty persistent there” coach Cheryl Reeve said.

It was a nice bounce back performance for the Lynx (15-2), who played one of their worst games of the year Tuesday in losing the Commissioner’s Cup championship 74-59 to Indiana, a game that does not count in the standings.

“The way we lost, we really weren’t happy with it. Just not the team that we want to be,” Collier said.

Minnesota shot a season-worst 34.9% in that one. But, after missing 12 of its first 15 shots, finished at 46.3% on Thursday.

Trailing by as much as 10 in the first half, the Lynx finished the second quarter on a 19-7 run, capped by a Smith a 3-pointer at the buzzer, for a 43-38 halftime lead, much to the delight of the 8,824 in attendance.

Reeve to coach All-Star Game

Based on the Lynx having the league’s top winning percentage through Thursday, Reeve will coach in the July 19 All-Star Game.

As coach of the team with the best record, Reeve will coach the team of the captain who earned the most fan votes — Caitlin Clark this year. New York’s Sandy Brondello will coach Team Collier.

“There’s transacting that can happen. It’s been done before,” Reeve joked.