Mystics at Lynx preview: Washington looks to finish regular season on a high note

The Washington Mystics (18-15) play their last game of the season in Minnesota against the Lynx (26-7) Sunday.

Where and When The Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, Minnesota. 4:00 P.M. ET

Streaming Monumental, League Pass

This game is actually important for the Lynx. They are currently in the top spot in the association, and winning this game will keep them there. The L.A. Sparks are right on their heels, one game back. And I am sure they would like to grab that number one seed, even though both teams have a first and second round bye at this point as the top two seeds.

Washington isn’t so lucky. They are in the fifth spot currently. They will have to play two one-and-dones regardless.

If the Mystics with the fifth seed, they will play a rematch of the Seattle Storm game from Friday night, that they squeaked out in overtime, 110-106. They had a heroic effort from Elena Delle Donne, who scored a season high 37 points, and Emma Meesseman chipped a solid 27 points and 5 assists to give the Mystics the W.

The rest of the team kept it close, but only two other players managed double digits, and that is simply not enough fire power to get by any playoff team.

What to look out for

Kristi Toliver, Tierra Ruffin-Pratt, Ivory Latta, Shatori Walker-Kimbrough and anyone else off the bench needs to have an epic afternoon to take the pressure off of Elena Delle Donne and Emma Meesseman. There is no way that the Lynx are going to let the two of them get any open looks.

Allison Hightower did her part, let’s hope she brings the mustard again Sunday.

Considering how the rest of the Mystics have been shooting, I am sure Coach Reeve would be fine letting TRP try to hit a wide open jumper all day.

The Mystics will also need a serious game plan for Syvia Fowles and stopping Seimone Augustus from hitting shots from the top of the key like she has many, many times against Washington, much to my consternation.

Bottom line is that the Mystics have to be in playoff mentality regardless of what this game ‘means’.

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Here’s a big bucket from Meesseman in the Mystics overtime win against Seattle. Hopefully, it won’t come to that.