Lynx defense spotty again in 89-86 loss to Washington

The Lynx had led exactly three-tenths of a second entering the fourth quarter Tuesday against Washington. But things were looking up.

A woeful first half had morphed into a competent third quarter. Riding Crystal Dangerfield and Napheesa Collier, Minnesota ended the third on a 13-4 run — capped by Erica McCall's three free throws with 0.3 seconds left — to go up three.

It evaporated nearly as quickly.

Washington turned three Lynx turnovers into an 8-0 run to start the fourth and never trailed again in an 89-86 victory at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. The Lynx (13-7) have lost two in a row, the first losing streak of the season.

"Just our execution, lack of attention to detail," Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said of that crucial sequence. "Do the little things when you come out of a time out, get yourself open, if someone isn't open, don't throw it to them. We had a miserable stretch right there."

It was one of many in a game that saw the Lynx struggle mightily on defense again. The Mystics (6-13) shot 54.1% — 58% if you throw out the third quarter — and scored 40 points in the paint. They turned 16 Lynx turnovers into 21 points. Pretty much from start to finish the Lynx had no answer for Myisha Hines-Allen (26 points, nine rebounds), Emma Meesseman (18 points) or Ariel Atkins (18 points).

Before the game, Reeve said she hoped her team learned a lesson from the defensive collapse against Seattle Sunday. Disappointing?

"That's probably an understatement," Reeve said. "I'm at a loss for any more words about it with them. … It's just not the path. So we'll put our heads together and figure something out."

The tone was set early, when Washington opened the game on a 16-4 run. It seemed every time the Lynx figured something out the Mystics would counter.

"It's really disappointing," said Collier, who had 21 points and 11 rebounds. "It's because we're not doing our defensive schemes, which is something we said last time."

The Lynx were down seven with 2:06 left when they mounted one final push. Odyssey Sims (17 points) made two free throws with 1:40 left. Bridget Carleton scored at 9.4 seconds to make it a one-point game. Tianna Hawkins made two free throws with 8 seconds left. But, on the ensuing possession, Dangerfield opted to drive for a score rather than look for a three, and her layup — which made it 87-86 with 0.9 seconds left, was meaningless. Reeve said Dangerfield was looking for a foul and an and-one situation.

"Just trying to make a play," Dangerfield said. "I'll leave it at that."

It was a costly loss. The Lynx remain in fourth place — the last position that gets a first-round playoff bye — but are just one game ahead of Phoenix. The Lynx have a difficult game with Las Vegas on Thursday before finishing against Indiana. Phoenix finishes with Connecticut and Seattle, but the Storm might not have a lot to play for on the final day of the regular season.

After the final horn, center Sylvia Fowles gathered the team together. Fowles, battling a calf injury, has missed the past 11 games, but the team hopes she can return for the playoffs.

"She was saying that it was unacceptable how we played today," Collier said. "Because, again, we weren't doing what the coaches were saying. And we weren't playing the defense that we need to. By the time we kind of kicked it into gear, it was too late."

The Star Tribune is not traveling to Florida for NBA and WNBA coverage. This article was written using the television broadcast and video interviews before and/or after the game.