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St. Paul, Minn. • Maya Moore scored 31 points, including 15 in the second quarter, as the Minnesota Lynx opened their WNBA title defense with a 113-95 win over the Phoenix Mercury in the first game of the WNBA semifinals on Wednesday night.

Lindsay Whalen added 19 points and seven assists for top-seed Minnesota, which has beat Phoenix in all four meetings this season. Center Sylvia Fowles scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Lynx broke the WNBA record for points in a regulation playoff game.

Diana Taurasi scored 25 points for the Mercury, who won the matchup between the two teams in 2014 on the way to their own championship. Brittney Griner added 16 points for Phoenix but was held to just two rebounds.

Playing for the first time in 11 days in the WNBA's new playoff format, Minnesota started a bit slow as the Mercury led 14-8 early with Taurasi hitting a pair of 3-pointers.

The Lynx went to their 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 Minnesota took control in the second quarter, beginning the period on a 19-4 run.

The Lynx led by as many as 25 and outrebounded Phoenix 38-20. Fowles helped slow Griner, who had 22 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and four blocks in the Round 2 win against New York.

HOME AWAY FROM HOME

With scheduling conflicts at Target Center, Minnesota's home playoff games were moved across town to St. Paul's Xcel Energy Center, the home of the NHL's Minnesota Wild.

With boards covering the arena's ice surface, the two teams played on the Lynx court. Minnesota lost just two games at the Target Center, but travel hasn't hurt the Lynx anyway. 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-INS

Mercury: Backup 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. ... 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. ... Minnesota's 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.

Lynx: The WNBA's new playoff format meant No. 1 seed Minnesota watched the first two rounds of single-elimination play. The Lynx last game was on Sept. 17 at home against the Atlanta Dream. ... Minnesota's .689 win percentage all-time (31-14) and .880 percentage at home (21-3) are WNBA playoff records. ... Augustus quietly finished with 10 points and equaled Whalen with seven assists.

UP NEXT

The two teams play Game 2 of the best-of-five series on Friday, Sept. 30 at the Xcel Energy Center —