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Minnesota Lynx overwhelm Seattle Storm, 80-64

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Lindsay Whalen, Tanisha Wright
Minnesota Lynx guard Lindsay Whalen (13) takes a shot against Seattle Storm guard Tanisha Wright (30) in the opening game of a first-round WNBA basketball playoff series, Friday, Sept. 20, 2013, in Minneapolis. The Lynx won 80-64.
Stacy Bengs/AP

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Seimone Augustus scored 19 points, Rebekkah Brunson had 18 and Maya Moore added 17 to lead the Minnesota Lynx to an 80-64 win over the Seattle Storm in the opener of their Western Conference semifinal series Friday night.

Photo gallery: Lynx vs. Storm highlights

The Lynx led 40-36 at halftime, stretched it to 14 after three quarters and pulled away in the fourth to improve their home playoff record to 10-1 over the last three years. Minnesota also became the only home team to win a series opener this postseason.

Temeka Johnson led the Storm with 14 points, and Tanisha Wright finished with 13.

Seattle made four 3-pointers in the first half and stayed close until the final 10 minutes. Minnesota led by 22 late in the fourth quarter before the Storm scored the final six points.

The Lynx had little trouble with Seattle in the regular season, sweeping four games, the closest of which was a 13-point win at Seattle on Sept. 10. By contrast, the Storm took advantage of sloppy play by Minnesota early on to take a lead in the first quarter and refused to let the Lynx break the game open in the first half.

Minnesota led 16-15 after 10 minutes, then threatened to pull away with a 16-4 run in the second quarter. But a well-timed break allowed the Storm to slow things down and claw back into the game, cutting the Lynx advantage to four at halftime.

Moore was just 1 of 9 from the field in the first half, but Brunson made the most of those misses, grabbing four offensive rebounds and leading all scorers with 13 points.

Johnson kept things close for Seattle, driving to the basket for 10 points at the break.

Game 2 in the best-of-three series is Sunday at Tacoma, Wash.

Gallery
1 of 2
Lindsay Whalen, Tanisha Wright
Minnesota Lynx guard Lindsay Whalen (13) takes a shot against Seattle Storm guard Tanisha Wright (30) in the opening game of a first-round WNBA basketball playoff series, Friday, Sept. 20, 2013, in Minneapolis. The Lynx won 80-64.
Stacy Bengs/AP
2 of 2
Tina Thompson, Rebekkah Brunson
Seattle Storm forward Tina Thompson (7) pushes the ball down the court against Minnesota Lynx forward Rebekkah Brunson (32) in the opening game of a first-round WNBA basketball playoff series, Friday, Sept. 20, 2013, in Minneapolis. The Lynx won 80-64.
Stacy Bengs/AP