Lynx overcomes offensive miscues to beat Atlanta 68-55

Wednesday night at Target Center was missing much of what made the Lynx one of the biggest surprises in the WNBA this season.

The WNBA’s best shooting team shot just 35.5 percent and struggled to make a layup. The best three-point shooting team so far this season, the Lynx went 7-for-22.

And yet, the Lynx beat Atlanta, 68-55. Minnesota (12-3) tied with New York for the league’s second-best record, winning for the fifth straight time and eighth time in nine games.

Because: Defense.

Minnesota’s point total was the second lowest this season, by far the lowest total in a victory. But even if the shots weren’t falling, Minnesota’s defense didn’t fail.

The Lynx held the Dream (6-7) to 27 of 76 shooting, or just 31.8 percent. Their point total was the lowest among a Lynx opponent this season, with their shooting being the second worst.

Atlanta struggled throughout the game, but their job became more difficult when star Rhyne Howard was helped off the field after suffering an injury midway through the third quarter.

Napheesa Collier scored 16 points with eight rebounds, but made just six of 17 shots. Bridget Carleton made four of five three-pointers – the rest of the Lynx went 3 of 17 from behind the arc – and scored 14. Dorka Juhász had a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds coming off the bench.

Tina Charles had 14 points for Atlanta. Nia Coffey and Haley Jones had 11 each.

Both teams struggled to make shots in the first quarter, but the Dream struggled even more. The Lynx led 18-12 after the first quarter despite shooting 7 of 18 because they held the Dream to 4 of 17 shooting.

Still, Atlanta led 12-11 thanks to two Howard free throws with 3:11 left in the first quarter.

But Collier scored three points in a 7-0 Lynx run to end the quarter.

Natisha Hiedeman first fed Dorka Juhász for a layup. Bridget Carleton’s steal turned into a basket by Cecilia Zandalasini. After Charles missed, Collier made a free throw after a 3-second defensive call on the Dream. On the ensuing possession, Hiedeman fed Collier for a basket and an 18-12 lead.

With Hiedeman leading again, the Lynx came out and scored twice in a 6-0 second-quarter run that gave the Lynx a 24-12 lead on Hiedeman’s basket with 7:41 left in the game. half-time.

But over the next 7½ minutes, the Lynx shot just 4 of 18 and were outscored 18-8.

Coffey, in fact, seemed to be the only player capable of making a shot in the second quarter. She was 3-for-3 — all three-pointers — and made two free throws with 5.2 seconds remaining to bring the Dream within 32-30.

But Williams fouled a three-pointer and made all three free throws with 0.6 seconds left to give the Lynx a five-point lead.

Other than Coffey, the Dream shot 2 of 14 in the second quarter.

Collier heated up in the third quarter, making all three of his shots and both of his free throws in the third quarter, as the Lynx – despite missing lay-ups after lay-ups, pushed their lead to five points at halftime at nine, 56-47, entering the fourth quarter.