Shots don't fall, but Lynx sure do

Numerous missed shots on layups and offensive rebounds doomed the Lynx on Thursday night.

After trailing by 10 points early in the third quarter, San Antonio beat the Lynx 74-72 at Target Center to climb over Minnesota by one-half game for third place in the Western Conference.

Hard to figure. The Silver Stars (8-13) were pounded by 23 points on the same floor two weeks ago and had lost five road games in a row.

That streak ended when Silver Stars forward Sophia Young made two free throws with 3.8 seconds left, breaking a 72-72 tie in front of an announced crowd of 6,126.

After a sideline throw-in, the Lynx (7-13) got the ball to Seimone Augustus, who finished with a game-high 22 points, for a contested 22-foot jumper that missed. Augustus finished with a game-high 22 points; she was 1-for-4 from behind the arc.

"A disappointing game for the magnitude of the game," Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said. "For us to let one get away, it hurts."

The Lynx built a 49-39 lead in the third quarter before missing five shots and committing two turnovers in a scoreless three-minute span. San Antonio went on a 9-0 run to close within one point.

"Instead of taking a 10-point lead and making it 20, it was a 10-point lead that evaporated and we went down."

Chamique Holdsclaw had a team-high 17 points for the Silver Stars, who had five players in double figures. Young had 12.

San Antonio shot 39.1 percent from the field, the Lynx a slightly worse 38.4 percent. Almost half of Minnesota's shots came from inside the paint, but few dropped (11 of 34).

"We just did not have focus and poise around the basket," Reeve said. "It was competitive both ways but I saw a lot of opportunities for layups that appeared somewhat uncontested."

Starters Lindsay Whalen and Rebekkah Brunson struggled the most for the Lynx. Whalen was 2-for-11, Brunson 3-for-14.

Whalen's four points all came in the final quarter. She had eight assists and seven rebounds.

Brunson (11 points, 14 rebounds) and Nicky Anosike (15, 10) both had double-doubles.

Reeve said the Lynx locker room was quiet after the team's second consecutive two-point loss.

"We let one get away," Reeve said. "It is not good enough just to be in close games, good games that are exciting to watch.