Final
Lynx-Dream Preview
Jun 29, 2009 - 6:23 PM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior WriterMinnesota (6-3) at Atlanta (4-5), 7:00 p.m. EDT
Although their top scorer Seimone Augustus is out for the season, the Minnesota Lynx are out to prove they can still be contenders.
The Lynx look to build on their most-lopsided victory of the season and win their third game in a row Tuesday night when they visit the Atlanta Dream, who again try to surpass their win total from a year ago.
Minnesota's playoff hopes appeared to suffer a major setback June 17, when Augustus tore the ACL in her left knee during a 104-80 loss to Phoenix. The two-time All-Star, who averaged 21.0 points in the first six games of the year and 21.2 points in her first three seasons, had been expected to lead the Lynx (6-4) to their first playoff appearance since 2004.
Minnesota got off to an unimpressive start without its star - losing 90-62 to Seattle on June 19 - but has regrouped to win its next two contests. In Saturday's 109-80 home victory over the Mercury, the Lynx finished with season highs in points and assists (25), and matched a season low with eight turnovers.
"It was about revenge because we lost a lot when we lost (Augustus)," guard Candice Wiggins said. "It's important for us to set a tone for the type of team we're going to be from here on out."
Wiggins led Minnesota's offense in Augustus' absence. She finished with 22 points Saturday after scoring a season-high 25 in last Tuesday's 69-57 victory over New York.
In addition to Wiggins, who averaged 16.5 points in two games against the Dream last season, Roneeka Hodges - Augustus' replacement in the starting lineup - has also emerged.
Hodges shot 8 of 15 from the floor and finished with a season-high 22 points against Phoenix. She has totaled 49 points in the last four games after going scoreless in the previous two.
"I think she has reached her maximum confidence level," Minnesota coach Jen Gillom said. "She's been given that chance and she's taken advantage of it."
Hodges and the Lynx, who boast the league's second-best scoring offense (84.7), should be able to continue that trend against an Atlanta defense that is the WNBA's second-worst (83.0).
The Dream (4-5) fell 82-68 at Connecticut on Saturday, their third defeat in four games.
Iziane Castro-Marques scored 16 points to lead Atlanta, which made 10 of its first 13 shots from the field before finishing 24 for 51 (47.1 percent).
"I don't think our play was that bad," Dream coach Marynell Meadors said. "We had some shots that didn't fall."
Despite its recent slump, Atlanta remains one victory from exceeding its win total from all of last year. The Dream lost the first 17 games of their inaugural season in 2008, en route to a 4-34 finish that set a league record for losses.
One of those victories did come against the Lynx. Atlanta defeated Minnesota 76-67 last July 9 for the second win in its history.
- WNBA
MINNESOTA 92
ATLANTA 85 FINAL
Jun 30 9:10 PM - WNBA
MINNESOTA 30
ATLANTA 29 END, 1ST QTR
Jun 30 7:23 PM
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