Collier scores 16, Carleton 14 as Lynx win fifth straight 68-55 over Atlanta; Howard injured

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Dream's Rhyne Howard exits game in loss to Lynx

Atlanta Dream standout Rhyne Howard exits the game in the third quarter with an apparent ankle injury vs. the Lynx.

Jun 20, 2024, 03:17 am

MINNEAPOLIS -- — Napheesa Collier scored 16 points and the Minnesota Lynx used a balanced attack to defeat the Atlanta Dream 68-55 on Wednesday night for their fifth-straight win.

Bridget Carleton scored 14 points and Dorka Juhasz had 10 points off the bench for the Lynx (12-2), who posted a 19-6 advantage from its reserves. Juhasz also had 11 rebounds. Carleton was 4 of 5 behind the arc but her teammates were 3 of 17.

Atlanta’s top two scorers, Rhyne Howard (16.2) and Allysha Gray (15-8) combined for 13 points on 2 of 25 shooting, 0 of 14 from 3-point range. Howard left the game in the third quarter with a lower leg injury and did not return.

Minnesota struggled with its offense, going 7 of 22 from 3-point range and shooting 35.5% overall (27 of 76) but held the Dream to 29% (19 of 66).

Tina Charles led Atlanta (6-7) with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Nia Coffey had all 11 of her points in the first half and Haley Jones had 11.

Minnesota took a 45-30 lead at the half, using an 11-0 run spanning the first two quarters to get some separation. The Dream got back in the game with an 11-4 run before before Courtney Williams made three free throws for the Lynx in the last second.

Jones scored to pull Atlanta within 43-39 with 3 1/2 minutes to go in the third quarter but reserve Cecilia Zandalasini hit a 3 to give the Lynx an 11-point lead and it was 56-47 heading to the fourth quarter.

Minnesota outscored Atlanta 12-8 over the last 10 minutes.

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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball