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Silver Stars-Lynx Preview

Jul 21, 2010 - 8:46 PM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

San Antonio (7-13) at Minnesota (7-12), 8:00 p.m. EDT

Both the Minnesota Lynx and San Antonio Silver Stars continue to struggle through disappointing seasons, but the three remaining meetings between the clubs will likely have major playoff implications in the weak Western Conference.

The first takes place Thursday night in Minnesota, where the Silver Stars hope to snap a five-game road losing streak and avenge a blowout loss at Target Center two weeks ago.

Both teams are coming off losses to Seattle, but the Storm are the only West team with a winning record, leaving the Lynx (7-12) and Silver Stars (7-13) both in playoff position.

Minnesota is trying to reach the postseason for the first time since 2004, and it would be in even better shape had it avoided a late stumble in a 73-71 home loss to Seattle on Saturday.

The Lynx led by seven after three quarters but managed only 12 points in the fourth while shooting 3 of 14 from the field.

"We can rationalize it every which way, but we have to put the ball in the hole," coach Cheryl Reeve said. "We just missed our opportunities. It didn't work out for us down the stretch."

Seimone Augustus had a late chance to tie the game but missed a hook shot, finishing 4 of 17 from the floor. For the season, Augustus' scoring average (17.3 points) and field goal percentage (45.5) are career lows.

San Antonio also led entering the final quarter against the Storm on Tuesday, but a late Seattle surge sent the Silver Stars to an 80-74 home defeat.

"We didn't fight enough in the end, or we didn't have enough spark or heart of something to push it through to the end," forward Sophia Young said.

Young had 18 points in that loss and is scoring a team-high 15.2 per game, but she's averaged 10.0 in the last five road games and San Antonio has lost them all. The team's last road win came June 18 at Phoenix.

Defense continues to be a problem for the Silver Stars, whose opponents are shooting a league-high 46.1 percent from the field. Four of the club's last five foes have shot 50 percent or better, with San Antonio losing each time it happened.

The Silver Stars have lost eight of nine on the road, and the home team has cruised to victory in both 2010 meetings between these teams. San Antonio won 80-66 on June 26, then the Lynx got 24 points and 10 rebounds from All-Star Rebekkah Brunson during an 89-66 win July 8.

"We were playing as hard as we can play and doing all the little things we need to do. That definitely threw them off a bit," Brunson said after that game.