The Lynx struggled to make shots Friday, even missing four consecutive free throws in the last 11 seconds.
But one final hustle play by Lindsay Whalen and Maya Moore -- a tip by Whalen on an inbounds pass and Moore's scramble to grab the ball -- ensured a one-point victory. The Lynx beat San Antonio 66-65 in the opening game of their best-of-three Western Conference semifinal series at Target Center.
Guard Seimone Augustus' midrange jump shot with 53 seconds left put the Lynx ahead by one. Neither team scored after that. The outcome sent 11,891 fans, the largest announced crowd of the season, home delighted and drained.
"We didn't play our best, we know that much," said Augustus, who had 19 points. "But this is a playoff game. This is the intensity and the focus that we expected from San Antonio. We expected their best. And they gave it their all."
The Silver Stars had lost four games in a row to the Lynx -- six consecutive going back to 2010. The Lynx won their first two encounters this season on buzzer-beaters by Whalen and Taj McWilliams-Franklin, and this game had the same white-knuckle feeling in the last seconds.
"Coach [Cheryl Reeve] just said whether we win by 10 or one, it is still a win, and we are up 1-0 in the series," Augustus said.
The series moves to San Antonio for a 4 p.m. game Sunday at AT&T Center.
Augustus could barely talk after the game because she was so hoarse from screaming.