Lynx topple Dream in OT thriller as Napheesa Collier returns to action

Napheesa Collier returned to action and the Minnesota Lynx bounced back from their second loss of the season, picking up a strong 96-92 road win over the Atlanta Dream in a game that had a little bit of everything Friday night.

This matchup between two of the WNBA's top five teams featured a rare weather stoppage, plenty of physicality, and a five-minute overtime period that took nearly 30 minutes of real time to complete, thanks to a couple key officiating reviews.

Collier, after missing two games with a back injury, scored 11 of her 26 points in the first quarter to help the Lynx get off to a strong start against an Atlanta team that came into the game with a 6-1 home record. Minnesota led by as many as 17 points in the first half, but the Dream closed the second quarter strong and trailed by five going into the break.

During that second quarter, thunderstorms in the area led to power issues and a stoppage of play. It's not often you see a weather delay at an indoor sporting event. The third quarter saw Collier and Dream star Rhyne Howard exchange words after the former took exception to the latter's defensive physicality.

The Dream continued to slowly take control of the game in the second half and led 82-75 with three minutes on the clock. But clutch shots from Courtney Williams and Kayla McBride pulled the Lynx closer, and then Collier took over with a bucket and a pair of free throws in the final 1:02 to tie the score. Howard's tough contested attempt at the buzzer didn't go, sending the game to overtime.

In the OT period, Cheryl Reeve was successful on two coach's challenges in the final minute, which kept the Lynx up by two. McBride hit four free throws to seal the win for the Lynx, who improved their WNBA-best record to 13-2. The Dream fell to 10-6.

Collier led Minnesota with 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists. McBride added 18 points, and Williams had 16 with 8 assists and no turnovers — a big bounce-back game after she had 5 points and 10 turnovers in the loss to the Mystics on Tuesday. Bridget Carleton chipped in 14 points on 5-for-5 shooting, hitting four threes. As a team, the Lynx hit 13 threes, had 30 assists on 33 made field goals, and went 17 of 18 from the free throw line.

Six players scored in double figures for Atlanta.

Next up for Collier and the Lynx is a home game on Sunday evening against the lowly Connecticut Sun, who have the league's worst record at 2-14. The game will be broadcast on KARE 11 in the Twin Cities.