MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Maya Moore matched a season-high with 32 points and the Minnesota Lynx clinched a playoff spot with an 83-76 victory over the San Antonio Stars on Tuesday night.
The Lynx (17-6) have won consecutive games since losing at Phoenix on Aug. 7 to stretch their Western Conference lead to 2 1/2 games over the Mercury. The Stars (7-17) have lost five of their last six games and are 0-12 on the road.
Minnesota's Lindsay Whalen had nine assists, and is third in WNBA history with 2,001.
The Stars led 48-37 early in the third quarter. Moore, who was held to just eight points in the first half, scored 12 of Minnesota's 30 third-quarter points to give the Lynx a 65-59 lead.
Kayla McBride hit a 3-pointer to pull the Stars to 79-76 with 23 seconds left before Moore made four free throws to seal it.
