The four Lynx players made a good showing Saturday afternoon in the WNBA all-star game.

The Western Conference all-stars, their team, lost 117-113 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, but starters Rebekkah Brunson and Maya Moore played well, as did guards Seimone Augustus and Lindsay Whalen who came in as reserved.

The four combined for 43 points, 19 rebounds and 13 assists.

Rebekkah Brunson, starting in place of LA Sparks center Candace Parker, played 24 minutes, 29 seconds, more than anybody else in the game. She was announced as a forward, which she is.

Parker, who finished first at center in fan voting, has a knee injury.

Brunson could sympathize with Parker. Brunson made the 2007 all-star team while playing for Sacramento but couldn't play because of a stress fracture in her left fibula.

She made the most of the first all-star game she could play in, scoring 20 points on an efficient 9 of 13 from the field. She was 2 of 3 on free throws and had nine rebounds, one short of having double-double. She also had a steal.

Another couple points and rebounds and Brunson would have equaled the stats that game MVP Swin Cash of Seattle had. Cash had 21 points and 12 rebounds.

Maya Moore, the first rookie picked to start an all-star game since Sue Bird and Tamika Catchings in 2002, was 0 of 5 in the first half, but then she switched shoes to another Jordan brand.

In the second half, Moore was 5 of 10 from the field. She finished with 10 points and three of everything else: rebounds, assists and steals. Her last shot was a desperation three from half court at the end of the game.

Moore played 23:06.

Lindsay Whalen, who was easy to spot on the floor, had six assists, five rebounds and four points. Three or four of her assists ended with baskets by her Lynx teammates. She played 17:22.

Whalen, who wore black socks almost up to her knees and a black brace on one of right elbow, had one of her first assists on a touch pass to Augustus on a fast break.

In the second, Whalen fed Brunson for a layup.

Seimone Augustus, playing only three seconds fewer than Whalen, was four of eight from the field and had nine points, three assists and two rebounds.

Seattle coach Brian Agler, coach of the West all-stars because the Storm won the WNBA title last season, had all four Lynx players on the floor together for the first 3:43 of the fourth quarter. The quarter started with the scored tied 92-all and they left the floor with the score still tied at 100-apiece.

THE DOWNSIDE

Moore and Brunson were both minus-7 in the game, meaning when they were on the floor, the East outscored the West by seven points. Augustus was a plus-4, Whalen a plus-2.

The Lynx players had six turnovers, Whalen had four of them, Brunson and Augustus one each. One of Whalen's came on a behind the back pass as did Brunson's.

Players were trying to make some fancy plays in an all-star game. Angel McCoughtry of the East team probably had the best. She threw the ball high off the backcourt, then grabbed the rebound and scored. Her jaw even dropped as she ran downcourt as the crowd announced at 12,540 whooped it up.

LYNX TALK

This was the third all-star game for Augustus, the second for Whalen and Brunson and the first for Moore, one of a record new players in the game.

Moore was the first West starter introduced. Wearing a cowboy hat, she did a dance behind a screen as she was being introduced. Viewers just saw her silhoutte. Then her hat almost fell off as she came out into full view.

The PA announcer said Moore had helped lead her team to the top of the league. He introduced Burnson as on e of the league's top rebounders.

"We are going to run and gun in the West," said guard Diana Taurasi, another West starter.

"Let's kid their butt," Agler said.

Brunson gave the West an early 4-2 lead on a fast break layup after a pass from Moore.

Later in the first quarter, Whalen had a layup off a feed from Augustus. Lynx players seemed to be looking for each other a lot.

Carolyn Peck, ESPN women's basketball analyst, was the color commentator for this game. She was probably told to be a little edgy, but she probably overstarted it a bit when she said, "Five of [the six Lynx reserves] could start on any team i the WNBA."

On the Lynx bench are:

Guard Candice Wiggins. The No. 3 overall pick out of Stanford in 2008 and Sixth Woman of the Year that season. She was a starter in 2009, hurt most of last season.

Forward Charde Houston. A third-round pick in 2008 out of UConn. Along with Wiggins gave the Lynx one of the league's highest scoring benches in 2008, an all-star in 2009. Had an up and down season in 2010. Has more moves on drive to basket than anyone on team. Sometimes a liability on defense.

Guard Monica Wright. No. 2 overall pick in 2010. Forced into starting role last season. Was erratic, but improved shooting percentage later in season.

Guard Alexis Hornbuckle. Backup at either guard position. Obtained in trade during 2010 season. Role player.

Center Jessica Adair. First full WNBA season. Shown flashes.

Forward Amber Harris. No. 4 overall pick out of Xavier. Seems to be a project. She is shooting only 31.9 percent from the field and averaging 3.6 points and 2.5 rebounds in 10.8 minutes per game.

So which five would start for any team in the WNBA?

Reeve recently said her starting five has great chemisty but she needs her bench to blend in better.

PRAISING THE LYNX

During the all-star game, many of the 15 players named the best in the league's 15-year history were interviewed. Several had compliments for the Lynx:

LA's Tina Thompson said Moore is as quick east to west as any player she has played against.

Dawn Staley, another honoree, called Whalen the best guard in the WNBA. Whalen was shooting free throws at the time.

She manages the game and can score at any time, said Staley, now the South Carolina women's basketball coach.

Peck seemed a little stunned; usually Bird is usually called the best PG. Peck said Whalen has been getting more recognition because the Lynx are winning. Whalen's strength, Peck said, is her ability to drive to the basket and score.

Lisa Leslie, the ex-LA center, called Moore phenomenal. Her jumper is nice, Leslie said, and she can step back and make her three-point shot.

Peck said Moore sometimes gets herself in some awful situations on the court as a rookie, but often can get out of them with her athletic ability and basketball sense.

She said the Lynx were the best team in the West because of their depth and Indiana the best in the East fro the same reason, especially because they can bring in center Jessica Davenport off the bench.

Davenport, a former Ohio State standout, is averaging 12.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game.

(In my original post, I said Lynx should have drafted Davenport instead of Harris. Dah. I mixed up my OSU centers -- mind on college hockey, too much perhaps. Davenport was the No. 2 overall pick in 2007. Jantel Lavender followed her and now is a rookie with LA Sparks, averaging 6.6 points, 2.8 rebounds. Lavender not making a big impact in WNBA yet.)

QUICK SHOTS

* One of the15 players who received awards for being the best in WNBA history was ex-Lynx guard Katie Smith, now with Seattle. Ten of the 15 are still active.

* Penny Taylor of Phoenix was injured in the second half of the all-star game. She left the game with a scratched eye.

* Tom Mauer, of the St. Paul-based Mauer clan, was one of the officials in the all-star game.