Jessica Shepard had the second triple-double in team history, and the Lynx used a dominant third quarter for a 95-90 win on Friday at Indiana.
Kayla McBride tied a season high with 29 points, Natisha Hiedeman added 17 off the bench and Minnesota ended a two-game skid.
Playing all 40 minutes, Shepard finished with 22 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, including 11 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds in the first half. She was 10 for 11 from the field and did not turn the ball over nor commit a foul.
Shepard needed just 22 minutes for her triple-double, the fastest in league history, she’s the first player to get a triple-while shooting at least 90%, and she’s the third player in league history to have at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists with no turnovers, joining Alyssa Thomas and Sabrina Ionescu.
“I was just trying to do whatever it took for our team to win coming off two losses,” she said. “If you’re going to have a triple-double, you have to win the game. I was proud of our whole team.”
Moriah Jefferson had the only other triple-double in Lynx history on June 28, 2022 with 13 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
Initially listed as questionable, MVP-favorite Napheesa Collier missed her seventh consecutive game with a right ankle injury. The Lynx are 5-2 in her absence.
“In terms of what the group needed, and maybe what we don’t have when we’re playing without Phee, is a paint presence, so the others needed someone to throw it into. Over the games that Phee hasn’t been in, Jess has kind of taken on spot of Phee and has done it quite well,” coach Cheryl Reeve said. “This is the epitome of Jess: good scorer, passer, rebounder. All of it was on display for us today.”
Shepard, a strong contender for the league’s Sixth Player of the Year Award, moved into the middle of the Lynx frontcourt in Collier’s absence and is averaging 11.9 points and 10 rebounds in those seven games. Yet, she could very well again be a non-starter when Collier is back.
Reeve said the bench is a Lynx strength.
“We’ll be very mindful about making sure Jess’s minutes are what they need to be and we’ll find different way to do that. Not an easy decision for sure, but Napheesa Collier is an MVP, so everyone will understand that decision has to be made.”
This is the first of three regular-season meetings between the teams, who also tip off Sunday night at Target Center. Indiana (19-17) beat Minnesota July 1 in the Commissioner’s Cup final.
Playing its third road game in four nights in three cities, the Lynx (29-7) dominated the third quarter, outscoring the Fever 32-17 to turn a two-point halftime deficit into an 82-69 lead. Getting defensive stops led to getting out in transition which led to being better identifying open opportunities and the Lynx were 13 of 15 from the field in the quarter.
“We just got the ball moving a little bit more but it all started with our defensive intensity,” McBride said.
A layup by Shepard put the Lynx up 89-76 with 4:37 left, but Aliyah Boston scored eight straight points to whittle Minnesota’s lead to five with 2:02 left.
McBride scored on a drive and Bridget Carleton drained a step back jumper with 1:03 left as the shot clock was about to expire for a 93-86 cushion.
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