The Minnesota Lynx nearly blew a 24-point lead to the Washington Mystics on Wednesday night, but a layup by Lindsay Whalen with a second remaining in the game helped the Lynx prevail, 79-77, providing the franchise with their best start to a season at a perfect 5-0.
Minnesota shot 66-percent in the first half and led 59-35 with 6:36 left in the third quarter, but 18 turnovers and some hot shooting by the Mystics started to chip away at the lead. In fact, Washington held two brief leads in the final minutes of the fourth quarter, but Minnesota responded each time. The Mystics finally tied the game with 26 seconds left before Whalen tapped in one of her own misses with just a second left to give the Lynx their fifth win of the season.
Whalen had 11 points and seven assists. Maya Moore and Rebekkah Brunson led the way for the Lynx with 16 points each.
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