Minnesota
WNBA Final Score: Lynx 76, Dream 64: McBride’s 12-Point 3rd Quarter Leads Minnesota to Victory
The Minnesota Lynx traveled from Washington to take on a hungry Atlanta Dream team that is vying for a playoff spot with just a few games left. Rhyne Howard was coming off three straight 30-point games as she looked to upset the Lynx and continue chasing down the Chicago Sky for the final playoff spot. Meanwhile, Minnesota looked to further their playoff positioning and win their fourth straight game.
It was a slow start for both sides, as neither team was able to buy a basket. Napheesa Collier and Alanna Smith got a couple buckets before two Dream triples gave them a two-point lead in the first three minutes. During Collier’s slow start, Smith and Courtney Williams picked up the slack to rebound the Lynx to a 13-8 lead heading into the first television timeout. Minnesota held strong the rest of the quarter and were able to keep the lead 20-14 as the buzzer sounded. Smith and Carleton led the way with 6 points each. Bridget Carleton also hit two three pointers in the frame.
A 7-2 run to start the second quarter for the Dream had the Lynx lead down to one just three minutes into the second period. Minnesota consistently held their small lead despite Phee’s struggles. Carleton scored a couple baskets and Myisha Hines-Allen handed out two assists, helping the Lynx gain a five-point lead heading into the final two minutes of the half. As the clock ran down, a buzzer-beating layup by Allisha Gray cut the Lynx lead to just three at halftime. Carleton lead the way with 11 points on 4 of 4 shooting, with Williams using her mid-range game to notch 10 points.
Heading into halftime, the Lynx lead the Dream 41-38.
Bridget Carleton leads Minnesota with a game-high 11 points on a perfect 4-of-4 shooting from the field and 3-of-3 shooting from three.
— Lynx PR (@Lynx_PR) September 11, 2024
Atlanta started the third quarter strong with a couple of buckets off of second chance opportunities, taking a 42-41 lead for their first lead since the opening quarter. After the Dream took the lead, McBride answered with a small five-point flurry to stop their run. The game continued to be within one possession until Hines-Allen dished another great backdoor pass to McBride for a layup, then following it up with a steal and fastbreak layup to take a six-point lead with 2:30 left in the third. After this, Minnesota broke out a nine point lead heading into the final frame. McBride took over in the period, scoring 12 points after having just two points in the first half.
Collier, the most recent Western Conference Player of the Week, came out in the fourth quarter looking to close things out as she scored the first two buckets of the quarter. Stifling defense by the Lynx helped them increase their lead to 14 as they held the Dream scoreless for nearly four minutes. Minnesota continued to showoff their dominant defense for the extent of the final quarter and closed the game out with their fourth straight win.
Key Takeaways
Stifling the Stars
Atlanta has a few high profile scorers that they rely on to give them the offense they need to win games. All of Rhyne Howard, Tina Charles and Allisha Gray are capable of putting up big numbers on any given night and can give defenses fits with their scoring prowess. The Lynx knew this and shut them down at every turn. The trio did combine for 44 points but shot a combined 13/48 from the field (27%). The Lynx made it very uncomfortable for all three and it resulted in preventing Howard from continuing her 30 point streak (had reached that mark in her previous 3 games), holding them scoreless for nearly four minutes in the 4th quarter and only allowing 64 points on 30% shooting for the team. The offense is what draws fans to the Lynx but the defense is just as good.
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Kayla McBride’s 3rd Quarter
K-Mac has had a quiet few games as of late for the Lynx taking a backseat to some of her teammates and that continued into the first half of this one. But when the third quarter started, she was a completely different player. She scored 12 points and helped Minnesota break out a nine point lead by the end of the period. McBride is a lethal shooter and can put so much pressure on the defense with her ability to shoot the ball. When she is in a zone like she was in the third, watch out.
Passing Clinic
The Lynx have been the best passing team in the league all season. They lead the league in assists per game 23.2 assists per game and assist percentage with 76.8%. Tonight was no different. They dished 24 assists on 32 made baskets but what made this stat pop was looking at it compared to the Atlanta Dream. Atlanta only had 12 assists on 21 made baskets and it was apparent from watching the game that they were playing a lot of iso basketball. Part of what makes the Lynx so difficult to guard is their ability to share the basketball and that was on full display tonight.
Up Next
The Lynx will head home to take on the Chicago Sky on Friday, September 13th at 6:30pm CT at the Target Center. They will look for their fifth win in a row and chase the 30 win mark on the season against a team that just lost one other best players in Angel Reese. The game will be televised on ION.
ICYMI: Canis Hoopus has a room with Playback to stream Lynx and Wolves games for our community! Follow this link and sign up to watch with myself and other fans as we cheer the Lynx to victory.
https://www.playback.tv/canishoopus
Highlights
Minnesota
Boldy, Eriksson Ek help Wild cruise past Stars in Game 1 of Western 1st Round | NHL.com
Kirill Kaprizov had a goal and two assists, and Ryan Hartman had a goal and an assist for the Wild, who are the No. 3 seed in the Central Division. Wallstedt made 27 saves in his Stanley Cup Playoff debut, and Zuccarello had three assists.
“I was definitely nervous,” said Wallstedt, a rookie. “I think it shows that it means something to you. I like a little bit of nerves. I think it’s something good. There were definitely some nerves throughout the day and then a little bit extra rolling into the game. But after the national anthem was over and the first couple pucks started coming, you’re good.
“I wanted to play and I felt like I have been going good. I was a little surprised (to get the start). But I was very excited as soon as I got the news. I just wanted to make sure I was ready today.”
Jason Robertson scored, and Jake Oettinger made 23 saves for the Stars, who are the No. 2 seed in the Central.
“We didn’t deserve to win,” Dallas forward Mikko Rantanen said. “I think two power-play goals for them, two a little-bit bounces for them where we had guys in the right spot. Just even keel. Playoffs are like this. Sometimes you lose a game, you can feel like you’re done. But that’s the mentality you need to have, you’ve got to reset and learn from mistakes.
“First 30 minutes, we didn’t win enough battles. They were just that little bit stronger in the battles and that’s why they were able to make us defend more than we want to. Just got to be stronger.”
Game 2 is here on Monday (9:30 p.m. ET; FDSNWI, FDSNNO, Victory+, ESPN, TVAS2, SN360).
“We prepped for a couple days coming into this one. Now, we will gather information from this game and continue to move forward,” Minnesota coach John Hynes said. “For me, it’s game to game and day to day. We want to continue to get better. We won and they [Dallas] lost. It’s not so much being satisfied where you’re at or that’s what it is. We need to continue to find ways to get better.”
Eriksson Ek gave the Wild a 1-0 lead at 5:35 of the first period on the power play. He scored on a one-timer from the left hash marks to finish a tic-tac-toe passing play with Zuccarello and Boldy, who found an open Eriksson Ek with a pass from the goal line.
“I think every team in the playoffs talks about not getting too high or too low. Just enjoy every day and each game and then we will go from there,” Eriksson Ek said. “I think we played pretty good today. The next game is a new game, so we just have to do it over and over every game. We know they are probably not the happiest with that game, so I am sure it’s going to be hard next game.”
Minnesota
ICE agent assault charge marks a ‘milestone’ for Minnesota prosecutors
Minnesota prosecutors charged a federal immigration agent with assault accusing him of involvement in a February road-rage incident.
Trump administration ends Minnesota immigration operation
Border Czar Tom Homan announced the end of Minnesota’s immigration operation after fatal shootings heightened tension and community backlash.
Minnesota prosecutors charged a federal immigration agent with assault, saying the agent was involved in a February road-rage incident during the Trump administration’s Operation Metro Surge.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr., 35, faces two counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, according to April 16 Hennepin County court records. He has a nationwide warrant for his arrest.
On Feb. 5, prosecutors said Morgan allegedly drove illegally on the shoulder of a congested Minnesota highway in an unmarked SUV and pointed his weapon at two people in another car.
Morgan is the first agent charged in Operation Metro Surge, the controversial Minneapolis-area federal immigration operation that resulted in two American citizens fatally shot by federal officials, according to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.
The charges “reflect an important milestone in our efforts to seek accountability for the harms inflicted on our community during Operation Metro Surge,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said in an April 16 video statement.
Second-degree assault with a gun has a presumptive sentence of 36 months in prison if convicted, she said.
“Mr. Morgan’s conduct was extremely dangerous,” she said, adding his actions could have led to “another disastrous incident” in the community.
Neither ICE nor the Department of Homeland Security immediately responded to email requests for comment. A cell phone listed for Morgan, identified as a Maryland resident, didn’t immediately respond to a call or text message.
The incident came less than two weeks after two Customs and Border Protection officers shot and killed Alex Pretti, 37, during a protest in Minneapolis. Pretti would be the second American killed during Metro Surge after an ICE agent in early January fatally shot Renee Good, 37, while she drove her SUV in Minneapolis near an immigration operation.
Later in February, the Trump administration drew down Metro Surge, which officials called the largest immigration operation in modern American history.
Investigators said they interviewed Morgan, who identified himself as the driver. Morgan told investigators he and the other ICE employee were returning from a surveillance shift. Morgan said he feared for his life and others’ safety, so he pulled up alongside the vehicle and drew his Glock 19 firearm. He said he identified himself as police.
State investigators said neither Morgan nor the other ICE agent reported the incident to an ICE supervisor.
The April 16 warrant, signed by District Court Judge Paul Scoggin, said there was a “substantial likelihood” Morgan would fail to respond to a summons, and officials couldn’t locate him.
On April 18, Daniel Borgertpoepping, a spokesperson for the county attorney’s office, said there is no knowledge of Morgan being arrested yet.
Eduardo Cuevas is based in New York City. Reach him by email at emcuevas1@usatoday.com or on Signal at emcuevas.01.
Minnesota
Reds Brandon Williamson beats Twins in first Minnesota homecoming
Reds’ Brandon Williamson talks Minnesota homecoming, beating Twins
Cincinnati Reds lefty Brandon Williamson pitched into the sixth inning to beat his home-state Minnesota Twins 2-1 in his first pro start in Minnesota.
MINNEAPOLIS – Brandon Williamson came to this ballpark as a kid, rooted for Joe Mauer and the Twins, maybe even dreamed a little of playing there one day.
“Oh, yeah. Joe Ma,” Williamson said. “That’s my guy.”
By the time that day came, Mauer had a statue outside the stadium, and Williamson had 29 career starts across three big-league seasons for the Cincinnati Reds.
And then the kid from tiny Trimont, Minnesota, came up big enough to beat the Twins in his first professional start in his home state – a 2-1 victory Friday in front of 200 or more personal friends and family from Trimont. And about 31,000 other people.
“It was awesome,” said Williamson, whose personal contingent at the game represented close to one-third of greater Trimont (pop. 705). “It was everything I thought it would be.”
The left-hander didn’t pitch especially deep into the game, getting two batters into the sixth. But on a night made for native Minnesotans, with a game-time temperature of 43 degrees, Williamson looked right at, well, home, pitching to the conditions and setting down the first six batters he faced – and eight of the first nine.
As one local press box wag quipped during the second inning, “These Minnesota boys know how to pitch in the cold.”
A pair of one-out runs in the fourth inning provided the scoring for a Reds team lineup still trying to break free from its early season woes – albeit with the twin obstacles of the weather and All-Star starter Joe Ryan’s presence on the mound for the Twins for the first six innings.
The only two hits off Ryan were doubles in the fourth by Elly De La Cruz and Eugenio Suárez, sandwiched around a throwing error by third baseman Ryan Kreidler. Suárez’s hit drove in two.
The only run against Williamson scored after he inexplicably followed four strong innings with three consecutive walks to open the fifth, including a four-pitch walk to No. 8 hitter Brooks Lee leading off the inning.
Austin Martin followed the three freebies with a sacrifice fly on a dying liner to the gap in right that Will Benson caught with a slide.
Williamson then rallied to get Luke Keaschall on an inning-ending, 5-4-3 double play started by Suárez, who got the rare start at third base.
“I thought he handled himself really good,” manager Terry Francona said. “He looked like he was having fun pitching. I know he didn’t like walking the bases loaded. But he looked like he was enjoying himself out there. I like that when guys are enjoying competing; then we’re OK.”
Williamson also left the bases loaded in the third after a hit batter and two-out single followed by a walk. He struck out Keaschall on a called third strike that was confirmed after Keaschall challenged.
“I could have kissed whoever was running the ABS,” Williamson said.
The Reds improved to 12-8 and remained tied for first place in the National League Central after their third win in four games – the second in that stretch by a 2-1 score.“That was cool,” said closer Emilio Pagán, who pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for the save in his first outing since experiencing hamstring tightness Tuesday.
“I don’t have a team in my home state (of South Carolina),” Pagán said, “so I don’t know what that feels like. But to pitch against probably his favorite team growing up in front of that many friends and family had to be a surreal feeling. And he handled it great.”
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