Lynx Roll Past Tempo In Toronto For Ninth Straight Win

Detroit Lakes, MN (KDLM) – The Minnesota Lynx pulled away from the Toronto Tempo after a tight opening quarter Thursday night and rolled to a 104-72 win, stretching their winning streak to nine games.

Toronto led 19-18 after the first quarter and stayed within striking distance for a while, but Minnesota outscored the expansion club 32-22 in the second and 31-14 in the third to blow the game open. The Lynx led by as many as 36 points and emptied the bench in the fourth quarter.

Turnovers decided it. Toronto gave the ball away 24 times, and Minnesota converted those mistakes into 31 points. The Lynx forced 14 steals and turned it over just 10 times themselves.

Minnesota also dominated the glass, outrebounding Toronto 48 to 36 and grabbing 14 offensive rebounds that led to 18 second-chance points. The Lynx shot 48.2% from the field and 44.8% from three-point range, hitting 13 of 29 attempts.

Four Lynx players reached double figures. Napheesa Collier, Courtney Williams and Olivia Miles each scored 16 points, and Kayla McBride added 13 on three three-pointers. Dorka Juhasz came off the bench for 12 points, going four for seven from beyond the arc. Natasha Howard filled the stat sheet with nine points, eight rebounds, four assists, two steals and two blocks. Williams handed out a team-high five assists, and reserve guard Maya Caldwell picked up four steals.

Laura Juskaite led Toronto with 19 points. Marina Mabrey scored 16 and Nyara Sabally added 10. Julie Allemand dished out six assists in the loss.

It was the second meeting between the teams in three days. Minnesota beat Toronto 100-93 at Target Center on Tuesday, July 28th.

The Lynx improve to 24-6, the best record in the WNBA and first place in the Western Conference by four games over Las Vegas. Minnesota has not lost since July 6th, a 90-89 home defeat against Connecticut. Toronto falls to 10-18 and sits fifth in the Eastern Conference in the franchise’s first season.

Minnesota returns home Sunday, August 2nd, to host Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever, who lead the Eastern Conference at 18-10. Tipoff at Target Center is set for 12:00 p.m.