Mystics suffer worst loss of season to Minnesota Lynx

WASHINGTON — Seimone Augustus scored 18 points and Maya Moore added 14 as the Minnesota Lynx rebounded from their worst loss of the season by routing the Washington Mystics 81-62 on Thursday night.

Rebekkah Brunson scored 13 points for the Lynx (19-6), who shot 57.1 percent (36 for 63) from the field — matching their season high set at Seattle on June 9. The Western Conference leaders lost by 29 points at Connecticut on Tuesday, but bounced back to win for the 12th time in 14 games.

Matee Ajavon scored 15 points and Marissa Coleman had 12 points for the Mystics (5-18), in their most lopsided loss of the season. Washington has lost three straight and four of five.

Washington's previous five losses were by a combined 18 points, but the Mystics trailed by as many as 23 in the second half against Minnesota.

Moore's basket to open the second quarter put the Lynx ahead for good at 19-18. Lindsay Whalen's 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer gave Minnesota its largest first-half lead at 39-29.

After Taj McWilliams Franklin's layup with 2:07 remaining in the third quarter made it 53-42, the lead never dipped below 10 points. The Lynx made seven of their first eight shots in the fourth.

Crystal Langhorne scored 11 points for the Mystics, who three-game winning streak against the Lynx was snapped.

Whalen scored 11 points and had seven assists for the Lynx.

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