Lynx-Mystics preview

Lynx-Mystics preview

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 4:07 p.m. ET

The Minnesota Lynx are about to find out what kind of team it is after a loss.

The Lynx, who set an WNBA-record by winning their first 13 games to start the season, suffered their first defeat Friday night, falling 94-76 at home to the Los Angeles Sparks.

Minnesota will try to bounce back Sunday at the Washington Mystics (7-8).

Earlier in the week, the Lynx had won at Los Angeles in a battle of then-unbeaten teams.

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"I thought they played with that chip on their shoulder and determination," Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said on WNBA.com after the loss, talking about the Sparks. "Perhaps we had a bit of a hangover."

The Lynx will need to clear their heads going against a Washington team that has been hot, although it has struggled at the Verizon Center. The Mystics lost their first five games at home, won two, and then surprisingly lost 91-79 to the Phoenix Mercury on Friday night.

Overall, though, Washington has still won five of its past seven games.

One of the Mystics' losses came at home to Minnesota, which claimed an 83-76 victory on June 11. Minnesota shot 49.2 percent in that game and placed four players in double figures, led by 21 points from guard Seimone Augustus.

Forward Maya Moore leads the Lynx, averaging 19.4 points per game, to go with 4.8 assists per game. She scored 28 points in Friday's rematch with the Sparks, shaking off a left thigh bruise suffered in Tuesday's fourth quarter.

Center Sylvia Fowles averages 13.8 points and 8.7 rebounds for Minnesota. Augustus is the team's third double-digit scorer at 11.2 per game.

For Washington, guard Tayler Hill leads the way with 15.7 points per game, with center Emma Meesseman close behind at 14.8. Guard Natasha Cloud will try to stay hot after making 5 of 7 3-point attempts en route to a career-high 18 points in the loss to Phoenix.

Minnesota built its 13-0 record on efficient team play and defense, neither of which was present Friday night. The Lynx allowed 56 points in the second half to the Sparks and committed 18 turnovers.

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