The Minnesota Lynx hope to get back to the basics Thursday evening.
Fortunately for them, they have a pair of players who can help them do just that.
Olivia Miles and Natasha Howard will look to build upon their emerging pick-and-roll chemistry when the Lynx (2-2) tip off against the Toronto Tempo (3-2) in Minneapolis.
Miles, the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s WNBA draft, has immediately taken on a prominent role with the Lynx. She is averaging 15.5 points and a team-high 5.8 assists as the primary point guard, and she has teamed up with the veteran forward Howard for a variety of pick-and-roll successes.
“Liv’s pick-and-roll game, it suits Howard like nobody’s business,” Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said. “The dual instincts that they both have, that’s a good match.”
Toronto is showing that it has winning instincts as well.
The Tempo hoped to be competitive in their first season as an expansion team, and they have surpassed many outsiders’ expectations in the early part of the season. They enter off back-to-back wins over the Los Angeles Sparks and the Phoenix Mercury and are going for the first three-game winning streak in their brief existence.
Toronto is led by Brittney Sykes, who is averaging 25.6 points per game. Marina Mabrey is next with 20.8 points per game, and rookie Kiki Rice ranks third with 11.4 points.
Tempo coach Sandy Brondello praised Sykes and Mabrey, two accomplished veterans, for welcoming young players such as Rice into the fold right away.
“We were so excited when we knew they wanted to come to Toronto,” Brondello said about Sykes and Mabrey. “And I think our front office did a great job of putting a really tough-minded team (together).
“Then we got Kiki, who we really wanted. So things worked out well, and I give a lot of respect to (Sykes and Mabrey). They’re great leaders in that locker room, but they’re also great leaders on the court. … I think that’s why you see us playing pretty good ball early in the season.”
Meanwhile, the Lynx are looking to avoid back-to-back losses. They are coming off an 86-79 home loss against the Chicago Sky on Sunday evening.
Kayla McBride leads the team with 16.3 points per game, and Howard and Courtney Williams are tied for second with 15.8 points per contest. Howard leads the team with 7.5 rebounds per game.
-Field Level Media
