Minnesota Lynx beat Atlanta Dream 68-55 to win their fifth consecutive game

Minnesota Lynx won their fifth straight game on Wednesday night, defeating Atlanta Dream 68-55 thanks to a balanced attack led by Napheesa Collier, who scored 16 points.

With 12 points from Bridget Carleton and 10 points from Dorka Juhasz off the bench, Minnesota Lynx (12-2) led 19-6 after using their reserves. Juhasz grabbed 11 rebounds in all. Carleton's teammates were 3 of 17, but she was 4 of 5 behind the arc.

Rhyne Howard (16.2) and Allysha Grey (15-8) of Atlanta Dream, the team's leading scorers, combined for 13 points on 2 of 25 shooting, including 0 of 14 from 3-point range. Due to a lower leg injury, Howard departed the game in the third quarter and did not come back.

Minnesota struggled on offence, hitting 7 of 22 from three-point range and 35.5% overall (27 of 76) while holding the Dream to 29% (19 of 66). Tina Charles led Atlanta (6-7) with 14 points and ten rebounds. Nia Coffey got 11 points in the first half, as did Haley Jones.

Minnesota Lynx took lead in the game

Minnesota led 45-30 at halftime after putting on an 11-0 run over the first two quarters. The Dream rallied with an 11-4 run before Courtney Williams scored three free throws for the Lynx in the final seconds.

With 3 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter, Jones' basket brought Atlanta within 43-39, but a three-pointer from backup Cecilia Zandalasini gave the Lynx an 11-point lead going into the fourth quarter, 56-47. Both teams had trouble making baskets in the first quarter, but the Dream had more difficulty. Despite shooting only 7 of 18 and keeping the Dream to 4 of 17, the Lynx lead 18–12 at the half.

Despite missing layup after layup, Napheesa Collier warmed up in the third quarter and made all three of her shots and both of her free throws. The Lynx ended the third quarter with a five-point lead that they had at halftime, 56-47. Minnesota outscored Atlanta 12-8 in the last ten minutes.