Augustus, Lynx blow through Storm

Seimone Augustus made nearly every shot she attempted against Seattle on Friday, and her Lynx teammates were almost as hot.

When that happens, even the Storm, with the stingiest defense in the league, looks overmatched. The Lynx routed the defending WNBA champions 92-67 at Target Center before an announced crowd of 7,856.

"It was one of those nights where everybody felt good, everybody played well," Augustus said. "And we shot the ball exceptionally well."

The Lynx shot 56.3 percent from the field in winning their fifth consecutive game. Their seventh victory in eight games kept the Lynx (12-4) in first place in the Western Conference, one game ahead of San Antonio.

This night the Lynx played with extra motivation, stemming from sadness. Monica Wright had to leave the team after her father suffered a heart attack.

"Everybody's hearts and prayers are with [Wright] and her family," Augustus said. "[This game] was like an emotional thing for us more than anything."

Augustus, who was averaging 20 points per game in July, was terrific again. She made eight of 10 shots from the field, mostly midrange jumpers, to finish with 16 points in just over 2 1/2 quarters.

"We understand that they are missing a big piece to their team in Lauren Jackson," Augustus said, referring to the Storm's 6-5 center and three-time league MVP sidelined by hip surgery. "But they are still a tough team. They came out and fought and made runs. It just so happened we were able to capitalize on everything they did."

Seattle's Swin Cash, who led the Storm with 18 points, saw the game the same way. "I wouldn't be surprised if they shot the ball 80-something percent," Cash said. "They were hitting everything they threw up. I mean everybody on their team."

The Lynx bench, led by Wiggins, was 14-for-24 from the field and scored 37 points. That's a lot, considering Seattle's opponents had been averaging a league-low 70 points.

Storm all-star guard Sue Bird, held to four points and one assist, marveled at Augustus' play.

"[Augustus] is just such a tough one-on-one player," Bird said. "They put her in a lot of different spots all over the court, get her the ball there, and she can just create. Tonight she just had it going like many other nights."