Minnesota puts its 10-game winning streak on the line at Target Center against a likewise surging Chicago Sky. The Sky has won three games in a row. The approaching playoffs add a compelling backdrop to Thursday's game. Minnesota is 1.5 games behind Phoenix in the Western Conference standings. The Mercury is playing Thursday night at San Antonio. Chicago has crawled back in the Eastern Conference race as well.
Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve addressed the media before the game.
On Saturday's showdown at Phoenix: "Saturday doesn't matter if we don't take care of business here. We don't even talk about Saturday."
Scouting Chicago: "The matchup with these guys is really interesting because they have some pieces that are a handful. [Epiphanny] Prince is awfully good. She's a great 1-on-1 player. [Sylvia] Fowles is 6-6 and we're not very big. So we expect there is going to be an attack on our interior. Jessica Breland and Allie Quigley … have helped them keep their head above water."
On Chicago's Elena Delle Donne, who has scored 46 points in her previous 48 minutes played the past three games: "You can't get more efficient than what she's doing. The challenge for us, if she doesn't start, is to make sure we have the right matchups. We like [Rebekkah] Brunson the best on her but Brunson is probably going to need a sub."
On Brunson's struggles offensively the past two games: "For her, 8-10 points and 10 rebounds – that's a solid game. She's not made her elbow jumper the past few games. It's on her mind and whenever it's on her mind she puts the extra time in and it usually goes well."
On the importance of gaining the No. 1 playoff seed: "It's important for any team. You have home-court and it's your fast-track to the finals if you will. The odds are greater. But if we've got to do it a different way this year than we'll do it a different way."
Follow @stribprepsdavid on Twitter for updates Thursday.
