Sports

Lynx Clinch 8th Straight Playoff Spot With Moore Scoring 34

August 10, 2018 / 9:02 AM CDT / CBS Minnesota

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Maya Moore scored 34 points, Sylvia Fowles broke her own franchise single-season rebounding record and the Minnesota Lynx beat the Las Vegas Aces 89-73 on Thursday night to clinch their eighth straight playoff spot.

Moore was 12-of-19 shooting, with five 3-pointers, for her second straight 30-plus game and Fowles had 10 points and 19 rebounds for her 18th double-double of the season. Fowles topped her rebounding total of 354 from last season.

Tanisha Wright added 16 points off the bench for Minnesota (17-13). Danielle Robinson made her second straight start in place of the resting Lindsay Whalen, but played just 12 minutes after injuring her ankle. Rebekkah Brunson also missed the game.

Moore had 16 points in the first half, Fowles grabbed 12 rebounds and the Lynx led 43-37. Fowles' 11 defensive rebounds were a franchise record for any half. Minnesota had a 57-51 lead with 3:20 left in the third quarter before closing on a 13-4 run as the Aces were held without a field goal.

Las Vegas (12-18) has lost five straight — including a forfeited game at Washington. The Aces are 2½ games back of eighth-place Dallas.

A'ja Wilson scored 18 points, with 10 straight makes at the free-throw line, for the Aces. Tamera Young scored 11 of Las Vegas' 21 first-quarter points and finished with 16 points.