Balanced scoring leads Lynx to 98-87 victory over defending WNBA champion Aces

It was, pretty much from start to finish, a thing of offensive beauty.

The third-place Lynx went to play the defending champion Aces in Las Vegas on Wednesday night and put on a clinic. Moving, passing, shooting, hitting.

Scoring.

The final: Minnesota 98-87. It gave the Lynx (20-8) their first 20-win season since 2017. It gave them their fourth straight win overall, their third straight coming out of the Olympic break.

And it was impressive.

“We know what we can do,’’ point guard Courtney Williams said after Wednesday’s game, televised nationally on ESPN. “We felt the energy during camp. Everyone else is waking up to it.’’

Offense? Where should we start?

The Lynx set season highs in field goals made (38), shooting percentage (59.4%) and three-point shooting (57.9%). They shot better than 55% for the second straight game, just the second time in franchise history that has happened and the first since 2013. They had 28 assists.

Napheesa Collier did it on both ends, scoring 23 points on offense and drawing the defensive assignment on A’ja Wilson (15 points, nine rebounds). Williams had a wonderful performance, scoring 22 points, making 10 of 16 shots, dishing out 10 assists and getting seven rebounds all while turning the ball over just once. It’s only the 10th time in WNBA history — and the second in franchise history — that someone has had at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists with no more than one turnover.

All five Lynx starters were in double figures: Bridget Carleton (12 points), Kayla McBride (11 points) and center Alanna Smith, who scored 10 points while being limited to 24 minutes by foul trouble, joined Collier and Williams.

BOXSCORE: Lynx 98, Las Vegas 87

WNBA standings

Coach Cheryl Reeve pointed to Williams’ play in the pick and roll, which was nearly flawless. The rest of it was pretty typical Lynx this season: “We moved the ball well,’’ Reeve said. “It’s what we do. We share it well. People got their shots, and they made ‘em.’’

The Aces (17-10) did not lead over the final 38 minutes. They made their runs, but the Lynx answered every one.

The most important came in the fourth quarter. An 11-point Minnesota lead had been trimmed to six. But, out of a timeout with 7½ minutes left, Reeve went back to her starting lineup. The Lynx promptly scored eight straight points. Williams fed Collier for a jumper, then fed McBride for a shot. Collier drove for a score. Then, with 5½ minutes left, Williams hit a 20-footer and the Lynx were in control for good.

“We knew Vegas would go on their runs,’’ Williams said. “We just had to make sure we answered those runs. That’s exactly what we did.’’

Time and again. The victory moved the Lynx to 2-1 against the Aces this season, with both victories coming on the road. The two teams will go at it again Friday night at Target Center in what promises to be a big weekend.

First, the rematch. Then Saturday night, former Lynx star Maya Moore will have her jersey retired with Indiana and Caitlin Clark — whose favorite player growing up was Moore — in the building.

For now, the Lynx are on an offensive roll. They are two games ahead of fourth-place Seattle and a half-game behind No. 2 Connecticut with 13 games left.

The Minnesota Star Tribune did not send the writer of this article to the game. This was written using a broadcast, interviews and other material.