Natasha Howard posted 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Nia Coffey drained a wide-open 3-pointer with 25.6 seconds remaining to give the Minnesota Lynx a four-point lead en route to an 88-84 win over the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night.
Coffey’s third triple of the night pushed the Lynx ahead 87-83, set up by a sharp drive and dish from rookie Olivia Miles. Miles then grabbed a rebound off a missed Mercury three-pointer and calmly sank one of two free throws with 13.2 seconds left to seal the outcome.
Coffey finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while Miles contributed 13 points, six rebounds, and seven assists for Minnesota, which improved to 1-1 on the season. Kayla McBride added 14 points, and Courtney Williams and Emma Cechova each chipped in 11 points.
Kahleah Copper led Phoenix (1-2) with 30 points, shooting 9-of-21 from the field and 10-of-13 from the free-throw line. DeWanna Bonner added 16 points, and Alyssa Thomas had 10 points and eight assists. Natasha Mack grabbed 10 rebounds and scored nine points.
Copper scored 13 points in the first half, and Bonner added 12 to help Phoenix build a 45-41 halftime lead. The Mercury connected on seven of their 14 made field goals from beyond the arc in the first two quarters. However, Phoenix managed only two three-pointers in the second half and finished 23-of-33 (70%) at the free-throw line.
Minnesota will be without Napheesa Collier, last season’s MVP runner-up, until at least early June as she continues recovering from ankle surgery in March. Collier also underwent surgery on her right ankle in early January.
Up Next
Lynx: Visit Dallas on Thursday night.
Mercury: Host Chicago on Friday night.