Wright first reserve to lead Lynx in scoring this season

For the first time this season, a Lynx reserve led the team in scoring on Sunday.

Backup guard Monica Wright had 18 points for the Lynx in their 93-84 loss at San Antonio. Wright, a 5-10, third-year player from Virginia, made six of nine shots from the field, including one of two three-pointers. She also was five of six on free throws.

"Nothing was really going right [that game} because we weren't up," Wright said after Tuesday's practice at Life Time Fitness practice facility inside Target Center..

"I had Becky Hammon guarding me. And the height difference helps out a lot. And just being able to get to the basket. Nothing was really different. We were just trying to dig [out of a hole] the whole game. It was really a grinder.

"I just tried to come in and give a spark and give energy however I could."

Hammon is a 5-6 guard. Maybe easy to post up, but she led the Silver Stars with 23 points and made seven three-pointers. San Antonio tied a franchise-high with 13 threes.

"They are No. 2 in the league in [three-point} attempts and makes, so that is probably why," Wright said. "They knocked down threes from everywhere. And they were shooting like 100 percent for four minutes in the first quarter."

Wright said the Lynx, who have four games left before the Olympic break, have to stay in the moment.

"We know it is coming up but we want to grind out these last few games so we can go into the break on a positive note," said Wright, who is averaging 9.8 points per game and shooting a career-high 51 percent from the field.

"We got in [Tues]day and we got after it," Wright said. "It was a battle today. Coach [Cheryl Reeve] came in and set the tone as soon as she walked into practice about what today was going to be like and everyone responded."

SCOUTING REPORT

The Lynx play at Los Angeles on Thursday. They beat the Sparks 92-84 on May 24 at Target Center in the third game of the regular season.

"No game is going to be easy, especially in the Western Conference. We look forward to seeing them and just trying to see if they are going to be the same team when we played them first. I don't think they are from what I have seen recently. ... But I am not going to give too much away."

In their first meeting, L.A. led by nine points halfway through the third quarter before the Lynx rallied. Three Sparks had at least 20 points. Candace Parker and Kristi Toliver scored 23 points apiece and rookie Nneka Ogwumike had 20 and a team-high nine rebounds.

Wright on Ogwumike: "Straight up baller. Period. She is like athletic. She is like smart. She is aggressive. She is strong. ... That is going to be a good matchup [her and Lynx forward Rebekkah Brunson]. Everybody is going to be interested in that. That is going to be fun to watch. But I have to play so I am not going to be able to watch. I might go back to liveaccess" and watch later.

MOORE WARY OF L.A.

"We expect another great battle [from Los Angeles]," Maya Moore said. "They are a very talented team. They got some experience. They compete hard. At their place, it will be tough."