MINNEAPOLIS — Olivia Miles put on a clinic at Target Center on Tuesday, powering the Minnesota Lynx to a 100-93 victory over the Toronto Tempo and giving the home crowd plenty to cheer about in a hard-fought WNBA contest.
Miles was the clear catalyst for Minnesota, finishing with 24 points, 8 assists, and 6 rebounds — a complete performance that kept the Lynx in control through the game’s most competitive stretches. Her ability to both score and create for teammates proved to be the difference Minnesota needed against a Toronto squad that refused to go quietly.
The Tempo made things uncomfortable for the Lynx all night, fueled largely by Marina Mabrey, who led all scorers with 25 points. Mabrey’s offensive output gave Toronto a genuine chance to steal the game on the road, and her scoring punch kept the Tempo within striking distance deep into the contest. Julie Allemand added 7 assists to keep Toronto’s offense organized, while Maria Conde provided a physical presence on the glass, pulling down a game-high 10 rebounds.
Despite the individual efforts, Toronto’s night was undermined by a costly turnover problem. The Tempo committed 15 player turnovers and 2 team turnovers for a total of 17 giveaways — a figure that repeatedly handed Minnesota opportunities to extend its lead or answer any Toronto momentum. In a game decided by seven points, those miscues proved significant.
Toronto did show some fight from beyond the arc, connecting on 13 of 35 three-point attempts for a 37 percent clip, and the Tempo shot 45 percent from the field overall. They also got to the free-throw line with regularity, going 14-of-17 for 82 percent. But the 10 offensive rebounds Toronto grabbed — a sign of second-chance opportunities — could not fully compensate for the turnovers that kept gifting Minnesota possessions.
The Tempo’s 22 assists on the night reflected a team that moved the ball and played with cohesion, yet the 17 total turnovers told a contradictory story. Toronto generated enough offense to make this a genuine contest, but Minnesota’s ability to capitalize on those giveaways, combined with Miles’ relentless two-way play, ultimately tipped the balance.
For the Lynx, the win at home was a statement performance. Miles’ near-triple-double anchored everything Minnesota did offensively and in transition, and the 100-point output demonstrated the kind of firepower this team can generate when its best player is operating at that level.
The Tempo, meanwhile, will need to address their turnover issues if they hope to compete consistently on the road. Mabrey’s 25-point effort and Allemand’s playmaking show Toronto has legitimate weapons, but 17 turnovers against a sharp Minnesota team is simply too steep a hill to climb.
The final score: Minnesota Lynx 100, Toronto Tempo 93.
