YOUR GUIDE TO THE TWIN CITIES
lynx/wnba
Final shot takes air out of Lynx
- Article by: AMELIA RAYNO , Star Tribune
- Updated: August 13, 2010 - 2:30 AM
After Lindsay Whalen's free throws put the Lynx ahead, Tina Thompson won it for L.A. with a 17-footer.
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With one second left in Thursday's game and the Lynx down by a point, Lindsay Whalen did her best to prove she's worth the multiyear contract extension she signed earlier that day.
Standing on the free-throw line, Whalen sunk two free throws to put the Lynx ahead by one. But a literal last-second jumper from Tina Thompson prevented the Lynx from posting their fifth victory in six games, as instead the Sparks pulled out a 78-77 victory at Target Center.
This buzzer-beating loss put the Lynx (11-18) in a tie with San Antonio for third place in the Western Conference, with Los Angeles (11-19) a half-game behind those two teams in fifth.
"It stings," said Rebekkah Brunson, who recorded her 12th double-double of the season with 17 points and 14 rebounds. "I think we're at the point right now, where we know we've got to take care of home court, and this was a big game for us. We're in the hunt with San Antonio. And we played like it was important for a lot of the game, and it kind of got away from us."
It should have never gotten to that point. With all their shots falling, and looking physically dominant on the court, it appeared the Lynx were in control against the Sparks (11-19). Then, just as fast, it was gone.
The Lynx got out to a 23-10 lead in the first quarter and a 42-29 lead halfway through the second. But after halftime, the Lynx -- following a disturbing trend of late -- allowed the Sparks back into a matchup that had looked one-sided.
As the clock ticked down late, the Lynx settled in to a game of back-and-forth two-point ball, and with a minute left, they relinquished the lead for the first time on a three-pointer by DeLisha Milton-Jones, who finished with 21 points.
It looked like the Lynx might still prevail when Whalen brought the lead back, once on a two-point jumper, and again on the free throws. But Thompson -- the WNBA's all-time leading scorer -- fired in a 17-footer from the baseline for the shocking end.
"I knew we had to get a stop," Whalen said. "I knew we had one stop to get. Unfortunately, Tina made a heck of a shot."
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