Kayla McBride scores 31 points as Minnesota Lynx beat Atlanta Dream

Minnesota Lynx won a close game on Sunday in Atlanta thanks to an incredible third quarter. As close to a flawless performance as you could witness, Kayla McBride put up what may have been her greatest performance to yet. Minnesota Lynx defeated Atlanta Dream 92-79. The Lynx improved to 4-1 with the win, giving them back-to-back victories in a rare position.

To start with, McBride scored 31 points, which was both a career-high and a record she set with the Lynx. She converted her first five free throw attempts, her first ten shots, and her first six three-pointers. Next, the Lynx After a back-and-forth first half, the Lynx led by four points and defeated the host team Dream 26–12 in the third quarter, thanks to 10 points apiece from Napheesa Collier and McBride.

Collier ended with 20 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 blocks. Alanna Smith, a center, had another outstanding night, scoring 17 points, nailing three of six three-pointers, and adding four rebounds and five assists. Lynx's early season tendency to lose huge leads. They led by 18 going into the fourth quarter, but the Dream trimmed the advantage to single digits late in the fourth. The Dream (2-2) was led by Ryne Howard (20 points) and Tina Charles (14). 

Kayla McBride and Alanna Smith have good start

McBride (12) and Smith (10) combined for 22 of the Lynx's 28 points in the first quarter, which finished with the visitors leading by three despite Atlanta's scorching 55.6% shooting. Atlanta remained hot in the second quarter, making nine of 18 shots and three of six three-pointers. Despite this, the Lynx led 51-47 at halftime courtesy of a 7-2 second quarter. 

Despite the Dream's shooting, the Lynx led 10-5 in free throws, 6-3 in points off turnovers, and 9-3 at halftime, with McBride and Smith accounting for 31 of the 51 points. The Lynx restricted the Dream to 12 points on 4-for-16 shooting in a 26-12 third quarter, with Collier scoring 10 and McBride scoring nine to remain flawless for the day.