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Aug 2, 2010 - 9:23 PM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Connecticut (13-12) at Minnesota (8-16), 8:00 p.m. EDT

A win over the team with the league's best record helped the Minnesota Lynx take hold of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, but they know it won't mean much if they can't build on the victory.

The Lynx will try to win back-to-back games for the third time this season as they host the slumping Connecticut Sun on Tuesday.

Minnesota (8-16) snapped a five-game losing streak, defeating Seattle 72-71 on Sunday to hand the WNBA-best Storm their third loss this season. Seimone Augustus scored 24 points, including six during a key fourth-quarter run, and surpassed 2,500 for her career. She reached the mark in 120 games, second-fewest in WNBA history behind Cynthia Cooper (117).

The win moved the Lynx one-half game ahead of Los Angeles for fourth in the West.

Minnesota, which last won consecutive games July 8 and 14, could have a tough time holding on to that spot. After hosting the Sun, who won the teams' previous matchup 105-79 on May 27, the Lynx play six of their final nine games on the road.

"We see a great opportunity to control our own destiny with regards to playoffs," said coach Cheryl Reeve, who is trying to lead Minnesota to the postseason for the first time since 2004. "That gave us a lot of motivation to go out there and win the game. The same motivation on Tuesday (against Connecticut)? I don't know. That's obviously the task to make sure we don't have a letdown."

Reeve will try to make sure her team plays better defense against Connecticut after the Sun shot 50.7 percent and hit nine 3-pointers when the two last met. The Lynx are giving up 83.5 points per game - second-most in the league - but held four of their last six opponents below 75.

The Sun (13-12) have also struggled to score recently, failing to reach 70 points the last two games. They have dropped four of five overall and lost 71-67 to New York on Sunday.

Asjha Jones scored 18 points and No. 1 overall pick Tina Charles added 12 and 10 rebounds for her 16th double-double. Charles, though, also committed five of Connecticut's 20 turnovers.

With the loss, Connecticut fell one game behind New York for fourth place in the Eastern Conference.

The Sun lost their most recent visit to the Target Center, 95-88 last year.