Danielle Robinson had her best game of the year Sunday night.
She had plenty of help.
Robinson scored a season-high 23 points, added eight assists and grabbed three rebounds as the Lynx dominated the second half in a 98-77 win over Las Vegas at
Target Center.
Minnesota scored its most points in a game this season, shot a season-high 58.8 percent (seventh-best in franchise history) and tied a season high with 27 assists in winning its second straight.
It was the most points scored and highest shooting percentage against Las Vegas, which entered the game with the league’s best defense statistically. Minnesota (15-15) scored 30 points off 16 Aces turnovers.
“Everything was just clicking, and credit to all my teammates. Every time we step on the court, we all believe in each other and have faith in each other,” said Robinson. “Tonight, it was fun to be on the floor with them.”
For the first time in 13 outings, all five Lynx starters scored in double digits, including Napheesa Collier, who had 23 points, six rebounds, four assists, three blocks and two steals.
“She certainly continues to build her case for best rookie in the class,” said coach Cheryl Reeve.
Sylvia Fowles had 14 points and six rebounds, Damiris Dantas scored 11 and Odyssey Sims 10, with five rebounds and four assists.
Minnesota starters finished a combined plus-109; the Aces’ starting five was minus-108.
Fowles anchored a defense that limited the Las Vegas triumvirate of Liz Cambage, A’ja Wilson and Kayla McBride to 27 points on 11-for-28 shooting. McBride, watched by Robinson, was 2 for 11. She scored a combined 42 points in the team’s previous two meetings this season.
“It was just limiting her touches, making sure she’s not getting easy curl shots in the paint … and avoiding contact,” Robinson said.
“She was great all around, distributing the ball, getting turnovers,” Fowles said of her teammate. “I think a lot of teams don’t respect her and what she did. For her to have a game like this pretty much put her on people’s scouting lists.”
Reeve said if the Lynx could limit the Aces (19-11) to fewer than 30 paint points, the Lynx would have “a terrific chance.” The Aces totaled 28 in the first half and just four in the second.
At intermission, Reeve showed video of the team “doing nothing that we were supposed to be doing” in the first half. “We were able to make meaningful corrections.”
The Lynx could have clinched a playoff berth, but Indiana won in Seattle, meaning Minnesota’s magic number is now one with four games left. Home to Chicago on Tuesday, Minnesota trails the Storm by one-half game for sixth overall.
Minnesota led by 15 in the first quarter, but Las Vegas used a 22-7 run (including a 14-0 spurt) in the first 7 K minutes of the second quarter for a 40-36 advantage. A three-point play by Robinson put Minnesota up 45-43 at the break.
Then the Lynx took over, shooting 67.7 percent in the second half and outscoring Las Vegas 53-34 in the final two quarters. A smothering Lynx defense led to 10 Aces turnovers.
Robinson capped her performance with a steal near midcourt and an uncontested layup at the other end for a 90-64 lead with 4:24 left, and a scoop layup between a pair of defenders as part of a three-point play with 96 seconds to go.
Collier was 7 of 8 shooting in the second half.
“They played harder than us, they wanted it more than us,” said Aces coach Bill Laimbeer. “… We’re tired, we were a bit slow the entire night.”.
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