Mercury-Lynx Preview
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The Minnesota Lynx are in first place in the Western Conference, but they could have a tough time holding on to that spot if the Phoenix Mercury can put up numbers like they did in their last game.
The streaking Mercury, coming off a 39-point victory, will match their potent offense against the tough defense of the Lynx on Wednesday afternoon in Minneapolis.
Phoenix (8-4) is looking to overtake Minnesota (7-3) in the West after the Lynx claimed the top spot following San Antonio's 84-74 loss to Los Angeles on Tuesday.
The Mercury, who have won four straight, completed a home-and-home sweep against Tulsa over the weekend, winning 102-63 at home Sunday in one of the most lopsided games in WNBA history.
Phoenix made its first 11 shots - a league record to start a game - and built a 32-point halftime lead. Penny Taylor scored 16 of her 18 points before the break and would lead seven players in double figures.
The Mercury led by as much as 45 in the fourth quarter.
"We were running the ball well," said Taylor, who played a season-low 19 minutes. "Everyone is very good at seeing the open player. When we run like that it is hard for other teams to match up, so you find we get a lot of open shots in those positions."
Phoenix leads the WNBA with 91.8 points per game, has scored at least 97 in three of its last four, and topped 100 in two of the previous three.
The Mercury could face a tougher challenge from Minnesota than they did from the league-worst Shock. The Lynx are giving up 72.0 points per game and lead the league in defensive field goal percentage (39.7).
Minnesota put on one of its most impressive defensive displays Saturday, holding Connecticut to six points in the third quarter and 24 in the second half of a 90-67 victory.
Rookie Maya Moore scored a career-high 26 points, shooting 9 of 14 overall and 6 of 9 from 3-point range.
The Lynx have averaged 95.5 points in winning their last two games after dropping the previous two while averaging 65.0.
"This was one good game. It's about putting together strings of good games. We're not going to be satisfied with this," Moore said. "As easily as we win by a lot we can also lose games if we don't come out focused with the same defensive effort."
A big reason for the Lynx's strong defensive work is the play of Rebekkah Brunson, who had 12 points and 10 rebounds Saturday. She's one of two players in the league averaging a double-double.
With Phoenix and Minnesota both playing well on the offensive end, fans at Target Center are sure to remember last year's meeting there. The Mercury set the WNBA scoring record in a 127-124 double-overtime win.
Phoenix won three of four between these clubs in 2010.
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