Minnesota and Phoenix delivered the night’s headline act, with the Lynx surviving a 104-100 finish in the highest-scoring game of Tuesday’s NBA W slate.
Across three games, the margins told the story: two contests were decided by four points or fewer, while Washington produced the cleanest separation of the night with a 79-62 road win over Toronto.
Lynx Win High-Scoring Battle With Mercury
The Minnesota Lynx beat the Phoenix Mercury 104-100 in a game that stood apart from the rest of the slate for pace and shot-making output. With both teams reaching triple digits, the matchup carried the profile of a possession-by-possession offensive duel rather than a defensive grind.
For Minnesota, the result was about finishing. In a four-point game, late-game execution becomes the separator: valuing possessions, converting under pressure and avoiding the kind of empty trips that swing close contests. Phoenix kept the pressure on deep into the night, but the Lynx had just enough to close at home.
Sun Hold Off Portland in 90-87 Finish
Connecticut also had to navigate a tight fourth-quarter window, beating Portland 90-87. The three-point margin reflected a game with little room for error, where a single stop or late conversion could tilt the outcome.
The Sun’s win fit the broader theme of the night: home teams being tested deep into crunch time. Portland pushed Connecticut to the final possessions, but the Sun protected their floor and emerged with one of the slate’s two narrow victories.
Mystics Deliver Road Win in Toronto
Washington produced the most decisive result of the evening, defeating Toronto Tempo W 79-62. Unlike the other two games, this one created clear separation on the scoreboard, with the Mystics holding Toronto to the lowest point total of the three-game slate.
That defensive profile mattered. On a night when Minnesota and Phoenix combined for a track-meet finish and Connecticut-Portland stayed within one possession, Washington’s ability to keep the game in a lower-scoring range gave the Mystics control and removed the late-game volatility that defined the rest of the schedule.
Nightly Takeaway
The July 14 NBA W slate offered contrast: Minnesota-Phoenix showcased offensive firepower, Connecticut-Portland delivered another tight finish, and Washington-Toronto gave the night its clearest defensive statement. Three games, three distinct game scripts — and two decided in the closing margins.