Napheesa Collier scored 30 points to lead the Minnesota Lynx to a 99-83 win over the Washington Mystics on Saturday.
Collier sank 13 of his 16 shots and made two three-pointers. Minnesota (19-8), which leads the Western Conference, extended its winning streak to three games with a home-and-away series victory over Washington (6-21). The Lynx beat the Mystics 79-68 at home on Thursday. Collier, a member of the U.S. team that won gold medals at the Paris Olympics, scored 17 points and 12 rebounds in the first game between the two teams.
Bridget Carleton made three 3-pointers and scored 16 points for the Lynx. Courtney Williams finished with 14 points on 6 of 9 shooting and grabbed seven rebounds. Kayla McBride added 10 points and four steals, and reserve Dorka Juhász added nine points and four rebounds.
Stefanie Dolson scored 23 points, leading the Mystics in the lead. Dolson made eight perfect shots from the field, including six three-pointers. Shakira Austin added 16 points and five rebounds, while Ariel Atkins (five assists) and reserve Shatori Walker-Kimbrough each scored 11 points.
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Collier scored 11 points and Carleton seven as Minnesota fell behind 8-2 before rallying to take a 22-16 lead after one quarter. The Lynx scored eight points off six Mystics turnovers.
Minnesota held the lead until Dolson hit a three-pointer with 3:20 left in the first half to tie the score at 32-32. Williams and Collier answered with back-to-back baskets before Walker-Kimbrough hit a jump shot, two free throws and a three-pointer to give the Mystics a 39-38 lead with 1:24 left. Carleton hit a three-pointer to put the Mystics ahead 7-0. The Lynx took a six-point lead into the break and never trailed for the rest of the game.
Minnesota took its first lead, 55-44, with a pull-up jumper from McBride with 7:22 minutes left in the third quarter. Collier sank a 16-footer in the final minute to put Minnesota up 22 points. He made two free throws to give the team a 78-56 lead heading into the final quarter.
Washington, which has lost four straight games, trailed by as many as 27 points and has failed to win any of its three games against the Lynx this season.
