Courtney Williams almost couldn’t miss with her mid-range jumper late Wednesday, and she ran the offense, especially the pick and roll, with aplomb.
With the Lynx for less than 36 hours, Myisha Hines-Allen made quite a first impression, too.
Shooting a season-high 59.4% from the field, including 57.9% on 3-pointers, Minnesota won 98-87 at Las Vegas in a game featuring the top two teams in the Western Conference.
The teams meet again at 8:30 p.m. Friday at Target Center.
Williams led the Lynx with a season-high 22 points, tied a season-high with 10 assists and added seven rebounds as Minnesota showcased its depth.
Minnesota had five players in double figures, led by 23 from Napheesa Collier. She also had eight defensive deflections and seven rebounds.
Minnesota Lynx forward Alanna Smith (8) shoots around Las Vegas Aces center Megan Gustafson (17) during the second half of a WNBA basketball game Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Bridget Carleton had 12 points, Kayla McBride 11 and Alanna Smith overcame early foul trouble to finish with 10 points. The Lynx had 28 assists on its season-high 38 makes.
“People got their opportunities and they made shots,” said coach Cheryl Reeve.
Down 11 early in the fourth quarter, a pair of baskets by Tiffany Hayes got the Aces within six, but out of a timeout, Minnesota (20-8) scored the next eight points to unofficially secure the win.
Collier hit a jumper, McBride scored on a feed from Williams, Collier hit another jumper and then Williams sank one to make it 88-74. After an Aces basket, Williams fed Collier for a 3-pointer.
“Our biggest thing was just making sure we answered their runs, and that’s exactly what we did,” Williams said.
Las Vegas (17-10) got within eight with 1:37 left, but Williams calmly stroked a 3-point dagger.
Smith, the starting center, picked up three fouls in the first quarter, which could have been an early game-turning moment.
Enter Hines-Allen, who joined the Lynx in a Tuesday trade with Washington. She finished with eight points and four rebounds in 13 minutes, 42 seconds, but her inside presence is something Minnesota has missed at times this season.
“She was just playing basketball. It was not complicated. We gave her a few things,” Reeve said. “… I thought her teammates really talked her through some situations.”
Jackie Young led Las Vegas with 26 points and Kelsey Plum added 20, but A’ja Wilson, the league’s leading scorer, finished with just 15 points, unable to consistently take over on the offensive end.
The first quarter was unofficially a shooting clinic with Minnesota making 66.7% of its shots for a 26-25 lead. Las Vegas shot 62.5%.
Minnesota shot 62.5% in quarter two and, bolstered by a 10-0 mid-quarter run, led 54-46 at the break. The Lynx, the league’s top 3-point shooting team, made five of seven.
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