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Lynx-Storm Preview

Jul 18, 2009 - 5:40 PM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Minnesota (9-6) at Seattle (9-6), 8:00 p.m. EDT

Although the Minnesota Lynx have road games against two of the top teams in the Western Conference before heading into next weekend's All-Star break, this appears to be the perfect time to face those clubs.

The Lynx try to take over sole possession of second place in the West on Sunday when they visit the Seattle Storm, who will likely be without leading scorer Lauren Jackson.

Minnesota (9-6), tied for second in the conference with Seattle (9-6), has had no luck in KeyArena lately, losing seven straight there since an 86-81 victory June 15, 2005. On Sunday, though, the Lynx might not face one of the premier post players in the league.

The 6-foot-5 Jackson is day-to-day after straining her left Achilles' tendon in a 66-63 loss to Detroit on Wednesday. Jackson, voted as a starter along with teammates Sue Bird and Swin Cash on the West All-Star team, is fifth in the WNBA in scoring (18.9), third in blocks (1.9) and leads the Storm with 6.7 rebounds per game.

She had 26 points on 7-of-11 shooting, a season-high six steals and six rebounds in a 90-62 win over the Lynx on June 19.

After this game, the Lynx close the first half of their season Wednesday against conference-leading Phoenix. The Mercury, however, will be without Diana Taurasi, the league's leading scorer (20.7), as she finishes serving a two-game suspension.

"I told them we need at least 10 wins before the All-Star break," coach Jen Gillom told the Lynx's official Web site. "That's their focus right now. Hopefully we can get this win on the road with teams missing players like Phoenix missing Taurasi and Seattle missing Lauren Jackson. You have to capitalize on those things."

Although Phoenix and Seattle could be missing their top players, neither will receive much sympathy from the Lynx.

Minnesota has been without leading scorer Seimone Augustus since she suffered a season-ending knee injury June 17. While the Lynx initially had trouble adjusting without Augustus, they've won five of their last eight.

Roneeka Hodges has moved into a starting role and picked up some of the scoring slack, but the 5-11 guard struggled in Wednesday's 91-77 loss to Atlanta. She shot 1 of 7 from 3-point range after entering the game 30 of 64 (46.9 percent) from beyond the arc.

Seattle counted on Bird to lead the offense in Friday's 69-56 win at last-place Sacramento without Jackson in the lineup.

Bird scored 10 of her 20 points in the fourth quarter as the Storm outscored the Monarchs 25-12 in the period.

"We are going to put the ball in her hands," coach Brian Agler said. "Whether it is her scoring or she is distributing. She finished off strong. She scored, made some passes, picked up the tempo. That is why in my opinion she is the best point guard in the world."

Bird had a season-high 10 assists against the Lynx last month.