Loyd, Bird combine for 44 points, Storm rally by Lynx 90-78

Jewell Loyd scored 23 points, Sue Bird added 21 points with eight assists, and the Seattle Storm used a 37-point fourth quarter to rally past the Minnesota Lynx 90-78 on Thursday night.

Seattle (2-1) had just 33 points at the break and trailed by as many as 19 points in the first half.

Minnesota led 75-67 with 4:44 remaining in the fourth quarter, but didn’t score again until Bridget Carleton made two free throws with 80 seconds left. Seattle went on a 15-0 run during the span, taking its first lead, 78-75, since early in the game on Loyd’s 3-pointer with 3:01 left.

Loyd and Bird each made five 3-pointers as Seattle was 12 of 25 from distance compared to Minnesota’s 5-for-17 shooting.

Jordin Canada added 16 points and Breanna Stewart finished with 13 points and seven rebounds for Seattle, which has won 10 straight in the series.

Minnesota dropped to 0-3 — its worst start to a season since 2007.

Crystal Dangerfield, who was scoreless Tuesday against New York, had 22 points for Minnesota. Sylvia Fowles added 20 points with nine rebounds.

Fowles made all five of her field goals in the first quarter, scoring 11 points to help Minnesota take a 26-16 lead. The Lynx increased their advantage to 48-33 at the break behind 13 points apiece from Dangerfield and Fowles. Loyd kept Seattle within reach by making three 3-pointers while Stewart missed her first five shots.

The Lynx are waiting for Napheesa Collier’s debut after she arrived late due to playing overseas. She is going through COVID-19 protocols and needs six negative tests before playing.