Lynx-Liberty preview: Napheesa Collier will miss makeup game because of ankle injury
Originally set for June 7, the matchup was rescheduled because of an air quality health advisory in New York.
July 28, 2023 at 7:58PM
7 p.m. Friday at New York Liberty • ION
Lynx update: The Lynx (11-13) will be without leading scorer Napheesa Collier against the Liberty. Collier left Wednesday's game — a 97-92 victory over Washington at Target Center — with 3:21 remaining in the fourth quarter because of a right ankle sprain. She's expected to miss at least a week. ... This game, which is a makeup of the June 7 game that was postponed due to air quality in New York, begins a stretch of six of seven on the road. After New York, the Lynx play back-to-back games at Connecticut (Sunday and Tuesday). ... Jessica Shepard, who missed 14 games because of illness, returned on Wednesday and had eight points and three rebounds in 12½ minutes in the victory over the Mystics, which was just the second in the past six games for the Lynx. ... Rachel Banham (fractured thumb) is expected to be sidelined until mid-August.
New York update: The Liberty improved to 18-5 — the best season start in franchise history — with a 95-84 victory over Atlanta on Thursday in New York. Their fourth straight victory gave the Liberty sole possession of first in the Eastern Conference. ... On Sunday, the Liberty scored 44 points in the first quarter en route to a 101-83 victory over visiting Indiana. The 44 points set a WNBA record for most points in a single quarter. The WNBA switched to quarters, instead of halves, in 2006. ... Breanna Stewart is second in the league in scoring (22.6 points per game) and tied for fourth in rebounding (9.3 per game). ... Sabrina Ionescu is second in the WNBA in three-point field goals made (70). Ionescu is averaging 16.0 points per game and shooting 42.9 % from three-point range.
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