Lynx nearly squander 29-point lead before holding off Fire

Napheesa Collier recorded 20 points and nine rebounds and Kayla McBride added 19 points and four steals as the Minnesota Lynx held on for an 85-81 victory over the host Portland Fire on Wednesday night.

Natasha Howard contributed 14 points and 12 rebounds as Minnesota (28-7) won for the 13th time in the past 14 games. Olivia Miles had 13 points, seven assists and five rebounds for the Lynx, who led by 29 early in the third quarter before having to fight off a fierce Portland comeback.

Bridget Carleton scored 16 points for the Fire (13-20), who had a two-game winning streak snapped. Portland's Megan DiLeo added 12 points and seven rebounds, and reserve Teja Oblak scored nine of her 11 points in the final stanza. Oblak handed out a game-high nine assists, five of them in the fourth period.

The Fire played without Carla Leite (sprained left knee), the team leader in scoring (15.5 points per game) and assists (6.2 per game).

Portland outscored Minnesota 48-28 in the second half.

The Lynx shot 46.2% from the field, including 6 of 20 (30%) from 3-point range. Courtney Williams added 10 points for the Lynx.

The Fire made 45.1% of their field-goal attempts and were 8 of 31 (25.8%) from behind the arc.

Portland pulled within one point late in the fourth quarter.

McBride then converted a layup with 1:25 remaining and Miles added two free throws with 27.3 seconds left to give Minnesota an 82-77 lead.

McBride's steal and ensuing two free throws made it a seven-point margin with 18.9 seconds to play, and the Lynx closed it out.

Minnesota led 68-51 entering the final quarter before Portland rattled off the next 13 points.

Oblak drilled a 3-pointer to bring the Fire within 68-58 with 7:21 left. Her driving hoop brought Portland within 68-64 with 6:08 to play.

McBride's basket with 5:27 left in the game marked Minnesota's first points of the period. The Lynx led by five before Oblak buried another trey to bring the Fire within 74-72 with 3:59 remaining.

Emily Engstler split two free throws to leave Portland down one with 1:44 to go.

Collier had 14 points and McBride added 11 as the Lynx led 57-33 at halftime.

The Fire trailed 26-25 after Engstler opened the second quarter with a basket before Minnesota went on a 23-2 burst. Miles capped it with a trey to make it 49-27 with three minutes remaining until the break.

McBride's 3-pointer with 1:25 left gave Minnesota a half-best 26-point advantage.

Minnesota led 64-35 after Howard's layup with 8:16 left in the third quarter before Portland ripped off 14 straight points to start its rally.

--Field Level Media