Minnesota’s Maya Moore continued to play at the amazing pace she has been on early in the season and staved off a Tulsa rally late.
Moore’s two made free throws with 12 seconds left proved to be the game winners and the defending champion Minnesota Lynx held on, 94-93, over the Tulsa Shock in the BOK Center on Friday night.
Skylar Diggins led the way for the Shock with 21 points and dished five assists.
The Shock (0-2) rallied from 16 down in the second half and took a three-point lead late. Diggins’ jumper put the home team up 93-90.
But Janel McCarville put in a close range shot to get the Lynx (3-0) within one, and Moore’s free throws put them over.
Diggins had a three-point attempt at the buzzer that just didn’t go in.
Minnesota head coach Cheryl Reeve was impressed with Diggins performance.
“I am really happy for Skylar,” Reeve said. “She is determined and is playing great. She has really asserted herself and looks like a great leader.”
Seven players scored in double figures for the Shock.
Rookie Odyssey Sims put in 13 and had a team high six assists in her second game.
Fellow rookie Jordan Hooper had 11 points and was 3-of-5 from behind the arc.
Moore is on a torrid pace to start the new season. She scored a career high 38 points in the win and has scored at least 30 in three consecutive games, tying a WNBA record held by three others.
More than 6,800 were in attendance Friday night for the home opener.
Tulsa is off until Wednesday when the Shock travel to San Antonio to take on the Stars. Game time is 7 p.m.