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Shock-Lynx Preview

May 22, 2010 - 6:44 PM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Tulsa (0-2) at Minnesota (1-2), 7:00 p.m. EDT

After coming out on the losing end in the first two games at their new home, the Tulsa Shock hope to notch that elusive first win on the road.

Trying to avoid their first 0-3 start in eight years, The Shock also look to avenge last weekend's season-opening loss to the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday night at the Target Center.

The Shock have been one of the WNBA's most successful franchises, winning three of the last seven titles before relocating from Detroit.

But in their first game of 2010 last Saturday, the Shock lost 80-74 to the Lynx (1-2). Amber Holt had a team-high 16 points off the bench for Tulsa, while Minnesota's Charde Houston scored 21 and Monica Wright added 18.

It was a sloppy game for both teams with the Shock turning the ball over 22 times and the Lynx committing 21 turnovers.

Neither team has played much better since.

In an 83-74 loss to San Antonio on Thursday, the Shock allowed the Silver Stars to shoot 51.7 percent and were outrebounded 41-31. The offense showed some signs of improvement, outscoring San Antonio 42-26 in the paint, but costly turnovers down the stretch sealed the team's fate.

"Good executions of offense today, proud of that fact," Shock coach Nolan Richardson said. "We can't afford to be outrebounded and have turnovers."

Kara Braxton, who had nine points in the opener, led Tulsa with 15 points, while Holt added 11.

Marion Jones still hasn't been much of a factor for the Shock, who are in danger of opening 0-3 for the first time since losing the first 13 games in 2002.

The 34-year-old former Olympic track star scored two points - the first of her WNBA career - in eight minutes Thursday after logging three versus Minnesota.

With stars Seimone Augustus (knee) and Candice Wiggins (knee) not expected back until June, the Lynx haven't won since defeating Tulsa.

After an 11-point loss to Washington last Sunday, Minnesota fell 79-76 to Seattle on Wednesday. The Lynx, who led by as many as seven in the fourth quarter, could have sent the game to overtime but Houston missed a 3-pointer from the left corner just before the buzzer.

"We compete hard enough," coach Cheryl Reeve told the Lynx's official website. "We just come up short. We need to work on our execution when time is ticking down."

Houston had 11 points, while Wright scored a team-high 19. Former University of Minnesota star Lindsay Whalen, who scored 10 points in her Lynx debut in Tulsa last week, had 17.

Minnesota has won three straight home games over the Shock since a 92-80 loss on July 7, 2006.