The ankle held up
Olivia Miles left Wednesday’s win at Golden State holding her left ankle. Two nights later she was the best player on the floor in Washington. The rookie guard scored a game-high 24 points on 10-of-22 shooting and handed out seven assists as the Minnesota Lynx beat the Mystics 94-84 on Friday night.
Her biggest basket came with 2:21 on the clock. Washington coughed the ball up, Miles drove straight through the middle for a layup, and Minnesota led 86-80. Kayla McBride buried a three on the next possession to push the margin to nine with 1:44 left. McBride finished with 18 points.
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Minnesota keep rolling without Collier
The Lynx did all of this without Napheesa Collier, who was held out for rest after the club announced the decision earlier in the day. Collier missed the first 27 games of the season following two ankle surgeries and has averaged 19 points per game since returning on 22 July. Minnesota barely noticed she was gone.
Natasha Howard piled up 21 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Courtney Williams chipped in 13 points and eight assists. The visitors hit 37 of their 70 attempts from the field, 52.9 percent, and 11 of 27 from three. That shooting covered a 36-26 beating on the glass, the kind of rebounding night that usually sinks a road team. Minnesota are 31-7 and have won 16 of their past 17 games.
Washington stayed in it for three quarters
The Mystics actually led after one quarter, 26-25, Cotie McMahon dropping a three with 14.7 seconds left in the period. Washington made 11 of its first 19 shots. Howard scored 11 in the second and Minnesota carried a 49-42 lead into the break. Shakira Austin’s layup cut it to 64-63 with 2:49 left in the third before Williams answered with a three and two free throws inside the final 75 seconds, and the Lynx went into the fourth up 75-67.
All five Washington starters reached double figures. Kiki Iriafen had 19 points and 13 rebounds for her 16th double-double of the year. Austin finished with 17 points, eight rebounds and six assists, Michaela Onyenwere scored 14, Sonia Citron 11 and Georgia Amoore 10. Washington drop to 21-15 and their two-game winning streak is done.
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