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Lynx-Storm Preview

Aug 16, 2010 - 11:22 PM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Minnesota (12-19) at Seattle (25-6), 10:00 p.m. EDT

The Minnesota Lynx pulled off a one-point victory to stun the Seattle Storm just over two weeks ago.

Duplicating that upset would go a long way in helping their postseason chances.

The Lynx, tied for one of the final playoff spots in the Western Conference, open a difficult season-ending, three-game road trip against the Storm on Tuesday night.

Minnesota (12-19), San Antonio and Los Angeles are tied for third place in the West, and only two will make the postseason.

The Lynx defeated the Silver Stars 84-78 on Sunday to win the season series, giving them the edge in the tiebreaker. Monica Wright scored 20 points and Seimone Augustus added 17 for Minnesota, which has made the playoffs just twice in its 12 seasons.

"I feel good about our chances, but I'm not going to guarantee anything," Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said.

Reeve is feeling optimistic despite having to visit the Storm, who are 15-0 at home, followed by a game Friday against the Sparks and Sunday's regular-season finale at East-leading Indiana.

"Anything can happen," guard Monica Wright said.

Especially if the Storm aren't playing to their abilities.

Seattle (25-6), which clinched the top overall seed for the playoffs last week, is simply trying to make sure everyone is rested and healthy for the postseason.

Two-time MVP Lauren Jackson sat out Friday's 88-68 loss in Connecticut with back spasms, and most of Seattle's starters played significantly fewer minutes in Sunday's 80-71 loss in Washington. The back-to-back defeats match a season worst for the Storm.

While Seattle coach Brian Agler doesn't want a repeat of last year, when an injured Jackson missed the final six games of the regular season and all of the playoffs and the team was eliminated in the conference semifinals, he might be ready to give his stars more playing time.

"We have to stay focused on what we have to do to try and get our people to playoffs," Agler said. "We've experienced not being 100 percent in the playoffs and we don't like that. We have to keep people rested, healthy and sharp. You have to have a feel for what your team needs and now we're closing in on the stretch run so we have to get these people back ramped up going in the playoffs."

Regardless of the mindset of the Storm, Minnesota has proven it can beat them at full strength.

The Lynx snapped Seattle's 13-game winning streak with a 72-71 victory Aug. 1. Augustus finished with 24 points and Nicky Anosike made 1 of 2 from the free-throw line with 5.5 seconds left for the final score.

Minnesota limited Jackson to a season low-tying 12 points on 4 of 12 shooting and forced 18 turnovers.