Detroit Lakes, MN (KDLM) – The Minnesota Lynx close out the regular season Thursday night at Target Center, looking to shake off a late-season slide before the playoffs begin.
Minnesota hosts the Indiana Fever at 7:00 p.m., two days after the Fever beat the Lynx 96-77 in Indianapolis. The Lynx are 1-4 in their last five games, with their only win in that stretch coming against the last-place Connecticut Sun.
The slump hasn’t cost Minnesota its spot at the top. The Lynx clinched the No. 1 seed when the Portland Fire handed second-place Golden State an overtime loss on Tuesday, which secures home-court advantage throughout the postseason. It’s the third straight season Minnesota has earned the top seed.
The Lynx will be shorthanded again. Rookie point guard Olivia Miles was ruled out Wednesday with a left calf injury, and she also missed Tuesday’s game as a late scratch about 90 minutes before tipoff. With the playoffs starting Sunday, head coach Cheryl Reeve said the team can’t risk Miles’ health.
Tuesday’s loss got away from Minnesota early. Indiana led by 23 at halftime, and Reeve responded by benching all of her starters, not to rest them, but to send a message. The Lynx reserves cut the deficit to seven by the end of the third quarter before the Fever pulled away in the fourth. Caitlin Clark, Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston combined for 64 points, and Mitchell’s 20 points extended her record streak of 20-point games to 27. Chloe Bibby led the Lynx with 15.
Indiana has more riding on Thursday’s game. The Fever are still trying to lock up home-court advantage in the first round and could finish anywhere from fourth to sixth, depending on Thursday’s result and other games around the league.
The WNBA playoffs begin Sunday, September 27th.
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