The Indiana Fever beat the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx 96-77 Tuesday, highlighting Minnesota’s defensive slide before the playoffs. Since July 1, the Lynx rank 11th defensively, allowing 109.1 points per 100 possessions; in May and June, they ranked first at 97.4.
The Lynx trailed by as many as 29 in the second quarter. With Minnesota down 25 and 5:33 left in the half, the coach pulled four regular starters; Napheesa Collier, Courtney Williams, Kayla McBride and Natasha Howard did not play in the second half.
Minnesota has lost four of its past five games and ranked 11th in both offensive and defensive rating over that stretch. The Lynx host Indiana Thursday in their final regular-season game; they clinched the No. 1 seed after Golden State lost to Portland in overtime.
