Being around Rebekkah Brunson is dangerous on the basketball court -- even for Lynx teammates.
The 6-2 veteran pursues every missed shot like her most prized family heirloom.
On Friday, Brunson knocked Lindsay Whalen down early in the first half, then sent Seimone Augustus to the sidelines in the second half, cringing with pain in the lower abdomen.
The poor Atlanta players -- it was their job to contain Brunson. No chance. She had 18 points and 14 rebounds as the Lynx beat the Dream 96-85 for their fourth consecutive victory, coming before an announced 7,556 at Target Center.
Brunson has a double-double in every game for the Lynx (4-1) this season, and she has tied the franchise career record of 17 in barely a season-plus with the team.
"Somehow you have to tie [Brunson's] shoestrings together and not let her jump," Dream coach Marynell Meadows said.
Augustus had 25 points for the Lynx, 15 in the second half. She left briefly after colliding with Brunson but returned later the third quarter.
Whalen added 16 points and eight assists for the Lynx, who were averaging a league-high 15.3 points off fastbreaks. That average will go up, after they outscored the Dream 27-17 in transition.
"Lindsay is playing equally as well as Brunson," Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said. "We went to her a couple times late [for baskets]. I know when she has [the ball], the right thing happens most of the time."
The lead changed eight times in the first half, which ended tied 39-39.
A 13-0 Lynx run early in the third quarter gave them a 54-43 lead. The Dream never got closer than five after that.
"We got back to what we do well, and that's defend," Reeve said. "If you look at that third quarter, we really defended well and got a lot of run outs, and that's how we built that lead."
Angel McCoughtry led the Dream (1-4) with 27 points. Atlanta was without 6-4 standout Sancho Lyttle, who is competing for Spain in the European championships.
Lyttle might have helped against Brunson. Or maybe not.
"Rebounding, you can't teach that," Augustus said. "It is all about heart and wanting to get the ball. Obviously, [Brunson] has it."
