Two-half Takeaways: Lynx go ‘outside’ for sixth straight win

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JUNE 29: Maya Moore #23 of the Minnesota Lynx shoots the ball against the Atlanta Dream on June 29, 2018 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JUNE 29: Maya Moore #23 of the Minnesota Lynx shoots the ball against the Atlanta Dream on June 29, 2018 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JUNE 29: Maya Moore #23 of the Minnesota Lynx shoots the ball against the Atlanta Dream on June 29, 2018 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JUNE 29: Maya Moore #23 of the Minnesota Lynx shoots the ball against the Atlanta Dream on June 29, 2018 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)

MINNEAPOLIS — There’s no secret about the talent and ingenuity of the Minnesota Lynx. On Friday night at Target Center, their improvisation was on display in another runaway win, defeating the Atlanta Dream 85-74.

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Minnesota (9-6) continued its ascent up the WNBA standings with the win, sitting 2 games back from first place. It’s probably no coincidence that the Lynx winning streak and Maya Moore’s stretch of 20-point games are linked at six. Moore’s efficiency was on point Friday, hitting 9 of 15 shots for 24 points, but the latest Lynx victory was a tale of two halves. Such disparities can happen with Atlanta (7-8), a team with a reputation for steals, but Minnesota often finds ways to circumvent scrappy competitors.

With each victory, the 3-6 mark the Lynx once held seems more and more far-fetched. Even with the slow start, no one dares to underestimate their potency.

“A lot of people were shocked, but I knew they were going to turn things around and figure it out and boy have they figured it out,” said Dream guard Renee Montgomery.