Howard’s late layup lifts Lynx past Wings in 90-86 thriller.

ARLINGTON, Texas — Natasha Howard scored 26 points and delivered the decisive basket in the final minute as the Minnesota Lynx held off the Dallas Wings 90-86 on Thursday night.

Howard converted an uncontested layup off a pick-and-roll with rookie Olivia Miles with 51 seconds remaining, breaking an 85-all tie and putting Minnesota ahead for good. Kayla McBride then sealed the win at the free-throw line, hitting three of four attempts in the closing seconds as the Lynx improved to 2-1. Courtney Williams added 21 points for Minnesota, finishing an efficient 9-of-10 from the field as the Lynx shot 60% overall. Miles contributed 15 points and six assists, while Nia Coffey added 13 points and matched McBride with eight rebounds. McBride finished with 11 points and went 9-of-11 from the line in a key late stretch that helped Minnesota withstand Dallas’ final push. For the Wings (1-2), Paige Bueckers led the way with 27 points and eight assists, hitting 10-of-11 free throws. Maddy Siegrist added 17 points, all in the first half, and Odyssey Sims scored 11. Dallas built a 12-point lead in the opening half behind Siegrist’s hot shooting, as the Wings led 48-40 at halftime. Minnesota responded with a 9-0 run in the second quarter to close the gap before eventually taking its first lead since the opening minutes on McBride’s free throws midway through the third quarter. Sims briefly swung momentum back to Dallas, burying a running three-pointer at the buzzer to end the third quarter and give the Wings a 70-68 lead. The game featured a setback for Minnesota when rookie Emma Cechova, who had averaged 11 points through her first two games, exited in the third quarter with a non-contact knee injury. Minnesota returns home to face Chicago on Sunday, while Dallas begins a road trip Monday at Washington.