Lynx lose a shocker at home

Hurry with the reinforcements. After winning their season opener, the Lynx lost their third game in a row on Sunday.

The culprit was a bit of a shocker. Rebuilding Tulsa, under first-year coach Nolan Richardson, was remarkably efficient early at Target Center. The previously winless Shock shot 61 percent in the first quarter, never trailed and won 94-82 before an announced crowd of 6,822.

Before Lynx fans could sit -- by tradition they have to stand until their team scores -- it was 9-0 Tulsa. Most fans cheated somewhat, sitting during a timeout, before Lynx rookie guard Monica Wright finally sank a baseline jumper 2 1/2 minutes into the game.

"We couldn't stop the bleeding [Sunday]," said coach Cheryl Reeve, whose Lynx beat Tulsa 80-74 in a season opener on May 15. "They were smarter about their pressing [this time]. They played a zone the entire game, the 1-1-3 matchup. They played a lot of man-to-man last time. We got a lot of easy baskets."

On Sunday, Tulsa (1-2) had more layups and close-range shots. The Shock scored 27 points off 23 turnovers, had 48 points in the paint, and outscored the Lynx 30-6 on fast breaks.

"Enough is enough," a frustrated Reeve said. "We can't defend without fouling. That was the message to [my players]. This is not going to be who we are."

Five players scored in double figures for Tulsa. Reserves Plenette Pierson and Shavonte Zellous each had a team-high 14 points for the Shock. Chante Black, a 6-5 center, added 10 points and 17 rebounds.

Said Reeve, "We had some shortcomings the first time we played Tulsa and one of them was our transition 'D.' We scored [Sunday], and they would throw it over the top of our head for a layup. That's what they do well. That's what they coach. It's not like [we] didn't know."

The Lynx, paced by Charde Houston's 23 points, were within three in the second quarter when Tulsa went on a 14-1 run -- the key to its 52-38 halftime lead.

"We are still trying to figure out ourselves," said Wright, who had 11 points. Point guard Lindsay Whalen had 16 points and four assists but also committed six turnovers.

Even when guards Candice Wiggins [knee surgery] and Seimone Augustus [hysterectomy, fibroids] return, Reeve said, the Lynx need to improve their defense and rebounding.

"Candice and Seimone aren't going to go out there and be the answer to our problems."

Wiggins is close to playing, too. She is expected to resume normal practices this week. Augustus is still probably two weeks away from being game ready.