Lynx can’t recover from poor defensive start

SKY 87, LYNX 81 >> NEXT: AT CHICAGO, 7 P.M. MONDAY, FDSN

Deficit grew to 15 in third before Minnesota rallied in second loss in three games

Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5) drives to the basket as Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24)defends during the first half of Saturday’s game at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. PHOTOS BY DANIEL BARTEL — GETTY IMAGES

Lynx guard Kayla McBride (21) dribbles the ball as Kia Nurse (11) of the Chicago Sky defends during the second half at Wintrust Arena in Chicago on Saturday.

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By Jace Frederick

jfrederick@pioneerpress.com

The grind of the busy portion of their schedule may be catching up to the Lynx.

Playing in their sixth game in 10 days, Minnesota came out flat defensively Saturday in Chicago, and wasn’t able to recover as it fell 87-81 to the Sky.

It’s the second loss in three games for the Lynx, who have played a pair of back to backs over the last week. Minnesota will play in Chicago again on Monday and host Phoenix on Wednesday before the All-Star break.

The Lynx will surely hope to emerge out of the gates better defensively on Monday. They surrendered 29 points in the first frame in Saturday’s nationally-televised bout, and 28 in the second as Chicago built a 13-point halftime advantage on the strength of 57% shooting.

“They had a will to win. They came out to compete in the basketball game,” Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve told reporters. “I’m not sure (we) would be able to say the same. We can’t not show up not ready to compete. That just can’t happen. It’s disappointing.”

The lead grew to as many as 15 midway through the third before the Lynx began to battle back. A Napheesa Collier jumper capped a 19-6 run in which Minnesota held Chicago (7-13) to just three buckets over a six-minute span to pull the Lynx back within two early in the fourth.

Chicago went just 11 for 34 from the field in the second half.

But as was the case in the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s loss to Phoenix, Minnesota again went cold offensively late in Chicago.

A Courtney Williams jumper brought Minnesota to within three with 1:42 to play, but that was the final time the Lynx (18-4) would score. The Lynx scored just eight points over the final six-plus minutes, going 3 for 11 from the field with two turnovers in that time.

Angel Reese finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds, good for her eighth-straight double-double. Kamilla Cardoso added 17 points and 15 rebounds, while Ariel Atkins paced the Sky with 27 points. Chicago, who’s now won four of its past seven games after a 3-10 start to the campaign, had 44 points in the paint and 28 second-chance points as the Sky out-rebounded Minnesota 45-28.

Interior defensive issues continue to be an issue for Minnesota.

“We didn’t bring it in the first half. There are effort areas. Rebounding is an effort area, and you get your (butts) kicked by 17. ... and 28 second-chance points, that’s hard to do. That’s really hard to do,” Reeve said. “I’d be surprised if that’s not historic in someway.”

Collier led Minnesota with 26 points and eight rebounds, and climbed into the top five all-time in scoring in Lynx history in the defeat (3,236 points).

Kayla McBride added 17 points and Williams tallied 13 points, eight boards and eight assists. Minnesota shot under 40% from the field.

“We did nothing to sort of impose our will, really, at either end,” Reeve said.