• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Storm-Lynx Preview

Sep 7, 2015 - 6:33 PM Though gaining home-court advantage throughout the WNBA playoffs now appears unlikely, the Minnesota Lynx remain on the verge of another Western Conference regular-season title.

The Lynx begin a home-and-home series with the non-contending Seattle Storm on Tuesday night needing just one win to clinch the West's No. 1 seed for the fourth time in five seasons.

A 75-71 home loss to East-leading New York on Sunday put the celebration on hold and lessened Minnesota's chances of overtaking the Liberty for the league's best record.

Minnesota (21-11) trails New York by 1 1/2 games with two remaining.

Winning the West still seems like a foregone conclusion, especially considering the Storm's 2-14 road record and lack of success in Minneapolis. Including the playoffs, Seattle (9-22) has dropped 14 straight at the Target Center and was blown out twice there earlier this season, losing by a combined 49 points.

The Storm, who last won in Minnesota on July 17, 2010, have lost all three season meetings and five straight in the series.

They'll be facing a Lynx team that's lost five of eight and not at full strength, however, with All-Stars Seimone Augustus and Lindsay Whalen out with injuries. Augustus, who's averaged a team-best 17.0 points in the three matchups, has missed six straight with a sprained foot and Whalen two straight with a sore Achilles.

Maya Moore did play against the Liberty despite being elbowed in the nose Friday and tallied 23 points, but the Lynx turned it over on four of their final five possessions after pulling within 73-71 with 2 1/2 minutes left.

"Our offensive execution was subpar, especially at key times," coach Cheryl Reeve told the Lynx's official website. "We just had too many empty possessions, particularly in the second half - mostly in the second half."

The Storm were officially eliminated from playoff contention with Sunday's 93-65 loss at Chicago, their second straight defeat after a 3-1 home stretch.

Rookie Jewell Loyd was Seattle's lone bright spot, matching season highs with 21 points and seven rebounds in the Chicago native's first game in her hometown.

"I tried to let it not get the best of me but I had great teammates that helped settle me down," Loyd told the team's official website.

Loyd is averaging 18.3 points over the last three games but has struggled against Minnesota, mustering only 16 points on 7 of 24 shooting in the three previous meetings.

The teams will meet again Friday in Seattle.