Napheesa Collier scored a putback with four minutes to play to put Minnesota up by five with four minutes to play Wednesday in Phoenix, seemingly putting the Lynx in a good position to win their sixth straight regular season bout.

The last three minutes said otherwise.

Minnesota was outscored 10-0 over the final 2 minutes, 40 seconds of the affair to fall to the Mercury, 79-71.

With the game knotted 69-69, Collier scored to put Minnesota back in front at the three-minute mark. But the Lynx went scoreless the rest of the way, going 0 for 3 from the field from that point, while also committing three turnovers.

It was very un-Lynx like for a team that’s been so sound down the stretch of games over the first half of the season.

But Minnesota’s defining trait — a suffocating defense — fall short, putting ample pressure on the team’s offense late.

The Lynx (17-3) surrendered 27 points in the final frame. Phoenix scored on 11 of its final 13 possessions of the game. Minnesota had no answer for Alyssa Thomas, who finished with 29 points, eight rebounds and five assists.

Wednesday’s matinee marked DeWanna Bonner’s first game back in a Mercury jersey. She signed with Phoenix this week after she was let go by Indiana.

Phoenix (14-6) has now won eight of its last 10 games and is quickly establishing itself as a fellow championship contender. Phoenix and Minnesota currently sport the league’s top two records.

The loss spoiled another strong showing from Courtney Williams, who continues to show why she was an all-star selection. The point guard finished with 21 points, six rebounds and five assists. Collier had 18 points and seven rebounds. But those two combined to go just 3 for 10 from the field in a final frame in which the Lynx committed six turnovers.

Jess Shepard had eight points on 4-for-5 shooting to go with seven rebounds off the bench.

Minnesota is back in action Thursday afternoon, when it plays the Los Angeles Sparks in California.