Playoff Atmosphere
August 24, 2013

In a hard-fought, physical game that resembled playoff action, the Minnesota Lynx out-muscled arch-rival Indiana, 84-77, before a crowd announced at 9,504 at Target Center on August 24.

Maya Moore led the way for the Lynx with a career high 35 points, shooting 15-of-21 from the floor. Moore was on the floor for 38 minutes as Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve shortened her bench to combat Tamika Catchings and the team that eliminated the Lynx from last year’s playoff finals. Catchings finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds.

“Typical Indiana game,” Reeve told reporters. “It seemed to me they made every three-point shot they took.” (In fact, the Fever made 10 of 20 three-point attempts.) “We were able to maintain our poise and composure,” the coach said. “We expect greatness from our team.

“It was, I guess, what you would label, a signature win.” Reeve played her starters for the majority of the game. “Nobody asked to come out,” she said. “They were ready to handle the physical nature of Indiana’s game.” The referees appeared to be reluctant to call fouls. “We know what things [Indiana] gets away with. It doesn’t do any good for us to cry for fouls and complain about officiating.”

Time and time again whenever the home team would take what would seem to be a comfortable lead, the Fever would storm back. A 19-12 lead with four minutes left in the first quarter evaporated into 23-21 at the end of the period. In the second quarter, a Moore basket made it 35-25, but a Layshia Clarendon three-pointer closed the lead to 37-35 at the half. A 56-49 lead in the third quarter melted to 61-60 on a Karima Christmas free throw as the period ended.

In the final period, a Moore basket made it 69-64, but a Jeanette Pohlen three-point basket tied the score at 72. The Lynx; however, went on a 10-point scoring spree on baskets by Moore and Seimone Augustus to salt away the victory. Augustus finished with 17 points.

The only other Minnesota player in double figures was Janel McCarville with 12 including a pair of three-point baskets. Lindsay Whalen had nine points and nine rebounds.

Reeve told reporters that, during the game, she detected impatience in the crowd behind the team bench. “The fans,” she grumbled, “are spoiled; they think we should never lose.” Some 60 years earlier, Minneapolis fans took the same attitude regarding their perennial champion Lakers. After George Mikan retired in 1954, the Lakers did start to lose on a regular basis. In 1960, they were in Los Angeles.