ints and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead Providence to a 75-69 win over

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Coach Cheryl Reeve and the Minnesota Lynx were not leaving any doubt: nearly two weeks between games was beneficial for the defending WNBA champions.Maya Moore scored 31 points, including 15 in the second quarter, as Minnesota opened its title defense with a 113-95 win over the Phoenix Mercury in the first game of the WNBA semifinals Wednesday night.Lindsay Whalen added 19 points and seven assists as Minnesota broke the WNBA record for points in a regulation playoff game. Center Sylvia Fowles scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Lynx, who hadnt played since Sept. 17 as the top seed in the WNBAs new playoff format.I think put to rest that narrative that you guys enjoy talking about when a team has 10 or so days off, Reeve said. That rest was good, preparation was good. Thats just kind of what we do.Diana Taurasi scored 25 points for the Mercury, who have lost each of the four games between the two teams this year. Brittney Griner added 16 points for Phoenix but was held to just two rebounds.Minnesota shot 63.9 percent from the field and outrebounded the bigger Mercury 38-20.Pretty hard to get defensive rebounds when theyre scoring 64 percent, Phoenix coach Sandy Brondello said. Got to play better defense, make more shots contested and be in a position to rebound. We have to play a bit more physical. Fowles, shes a beast on the boards.The Lynx started a bit slow as the Mercury led 14-8 early with Taurasi hitting a pair of 3-pointers.Minnesota went to its bench with Moore, Whalen and Seimone Augustus taking their first rest. The bench combined with Fowles and Rebekkah Brunson to spark a 12-3 run. Moore, Whalen and Augustus were the centerpieces as the Lynx took control in the second quarter, beginning the period on a 19-4 run.You try to throw different things at them, Taurasi said. Obviously you want to stop Maya, you saw what happened. You want to limit Seimone and Syl and then, oh wait, you have Lindsay Whalen running it down your throat. So, theres a lot of things that we have to kind of prioritize, and we didnt do any of those today.Minnesota led by as many as 25 and Phoenix sat Taurasi, Griner, Penny Taylor and Candice Dupree for the entire fourth quarter.BACKUPS FOR THE BACKUPSBoth teams are dealing with injuries to their backup centers.Reeve announced after the game that Janel McCarville was unavailable Wednesday because of back spasms. Reeve said the team is working to relieve the spasms but she was unsure of McCarvilles availability for Game 2.Mercury center Kelsey Bone left the game in the fourth quarter after being down on the court with an apparent injury. Bone walked off under her own power and went immediately to the locker room holding her left elbow.Brondello said Bone was still being evaluated.HOME AWAY FROM HOMEWith scheduling conflicts at Target Center, Minnesotas home playoff games were moved across town to St. Pauls Xcel Energy Center, the home of the NHLs Minnesota Wild.With boards covering the arenas ice surface, the two teams played on the Lynx court. Minnesota tied the WNBA record with 13 road wins this season, including winning all eight road games against Western Conference opponents.The Lynx will also play the 2017 season at the Xcel Energy Center.TIP-INSMercury: Marta Xargay started her second playoff game for Phoenix after making only six starts in the regular season. Xargay was limited to seven minutes in the first half after picking up three quick fouls. ... The Mercury had won four straight games, including two in the playoffs as the eighth seed.Lynx: Minnesotas 113 points broke the mark of 108 scored by Chicago in the second round. The overall WNBA record for points in a playoff game is 120, set by Phoenix in 2009 in overtime against Indiana. ... Minnesotas .689 win percentage all-time (31-14) and .880 percentage at home (21-3) are WNBA playoff records.UP NEXTThe two teams play Game 2 of the best-of-five series on Friday, Sept. 30 at the Xcel Energy Center. Jordan Eberle Islanders Jersey . -- Five former Kansas City Chiefs players who were on the team between 1987 and 1993 filed a lawsuit Tuesday claiming the team hid and even lied about the risks of head injuries during that time period when there was no collective bargaining agreement in place in the NFL. Clark Gillies Jersey . Peter Holland and Brad Staubitz were sent to Toronto on Saturday as the Maple Leafs traded defenceman Jesse Blacker and draft picks to the Anaheim Ducks. http://www.islanderssale.com/authentic-tom-kuhnhackl-islanders-jersey/ .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. Josh Bailey Islanders Jersey . -- The Magic have their first victory of the new year. Josh Bailey Jersey . Brazilian national coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has confirmed that the veteran goalkeeper is set to join Toronto on loan, saying it will help him be ready for the World Cup.Charlie Nicholas will attempt to end Matt Le Tissiers unbeaten run in Sky Sports Fantasy Six-a-Side on Super Sunday. Le Tiss racked up his fourth successive victory midweek as his selected VI for Liverpool v Everton thumped Paul Mersons in their winner-stays-on challenge.The Soccer Saturday pundits with the most wins come the final weekend of the season will battle it out to land £1,000 for their charity of choice.Charlie should hold an advantage with this weekends game being between his former club Arsenal and Sunderland, live on Sky Sports 1HD at 2.05pm, while the the usual £10,000 is up for grabs is up for grabs for entrants of the free-to-play game. Fantasy Six-a-Side Pick your team here for the chance to win the ￡10,000 jackpot. With no player values, formations or position requirements in Sky Sports Fantasy Six-a-Side, the pundits can pick whoever they want except for only one of the four Elite Players, who are Fabio Borini, Jermain Defoe, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez.Heres who the Soccer Saturday pundits are selecting...Matt Le Tissiers teamAlexis Sanchez - Ive got to go with the form man. Its not quite been the sensational second season Arsenal fans were hoping for but hes got five goals in his last four games. Alexis Sanchez bagged a brace against West Brom midweek Danny Welbeck - He sat out the midweek win against West Brom so Im hoping that means hell be fresh to play the full 90 on Sunday and get back to scoring ways.Alex Iwobi - Arsenal may not have much left to play for but this lad has plenty of incentive to continue to impress, which hes certainly done so far with a couple of goals and assists since being handed his chance.Wahbi Khazri - He seems to start every game for Sunderland and racked up plenty of goals at Bordeaux. Hopefully he can do the same for my side. Fantasy Six-A-Side points scoring breakdown Theo Walcott - After pulling clear of United with their midweek win, I think Arsene Wenger might give Walcott a chance to prove himself with a rare start.ddddddddddddYann MVila - He doesnt score many, netting just once this season, but what you will get from him is plenty of passes and hell win the majority of duels with Arsenals midfield.Charlies teamMesut Ozil - Well, Ill let Le Tiss have the in-form Sanchez and go with the player who has been Arsenals best player over the course of the season season. Mesut Ozil has scored six and assisted 18 goals this season Mohamed Elneny - He ranks first at the club for passing accuracy and second for average number of passes per game, so is guaranteed to pick up a healthy total.Jan Kirchhoff - Hes my insurance pick for in case it all goes wrong on Sunday and Arsenal fail to find the net.Hector Bellerin - His pace allows his to get forward so Id back him to create a few chances and complete plenty of passes, while Ill obviously be hoping Arsenal can record back-to-back clean sheets. Patrick van Aanholt - Another insurance pick but one that gets forward a lot, with three goals making him their joint fourth top goalscorer.Laurent Koscielny - He should be one of the best defenders in the Premier League and is another goalscoring defender, with four to his name this season. Fantasy Six-a-Side Who makes your VI? Pick your team to win ￡10,000 here. Also See: Paul Clements dream team LISTEN: The Fantasy FC podcast On Soccer Saturday On The Fantasy FC ' ' '