Minnesota Lynx Edge Portland Fire in Close Contest
Wednesday, August 12, 2026, 10:00 PM ET · Moda Center
Minnesota Lynx 85, Portland Fire 81, final. Our WNBA picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Minnesota Lynx vs Portland Fire?
Minnesota Lynx beat Portland Fire 85-81 at Moda Center on August 12, 2026.
Who was favored in Minnesota Lynx vs Portland Fire?
Minnesota Lynx were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -750 (about 88% implied). The favorite won.
In a tightly contested matchup, the Minnesota Lynx narrowly defeated the Portland Fire with a final score of 85-81 at the Moda Center. This victory marks the Lynx's continued dominance over the Fire, extending their series record to 4-0 this season. The Lynx's strong performance throughout the season has been underscored by their impressive away record of 28-7, while the Fire have struggled with a home record of 13-20.
The Lynx entered the game with a recent record of 9-1 over their last ten games, showcasing a scoring average of 98.3 points while allowing 88.9 points per game. Their current form includes a two-game winning streak, with their last match resulting in a 103-90 victory against the Dallas Wings. In contrast, the Fire have managed a record of 4-6 in their last ten games, with an average of 93.3 points scored and 93.2 points allowed. They are also riding a two-game winning streak, having recently beaten the Seattle Storm and the Toronto Tempo.
In terms of home and away performance, the Lynx have excelled with a 6-1 record at home and a flawless 3-0 record on the road in their last ten games. The Fire, however, have struggled at home with a 2-3 record in their last five games, which includes their recent victories.
The injury report for the matchup heavily favored the Lynx, who had Elena Buenavida, Antonia Delaere, and Dorka Juhasz listed as out, but the Fire faced a more significant challenge with Carla Leite, Frieda Buhner, Luisa Geiselsoder, Sarah Ashlee Barker, and Sania Feagin all sidelined for various reasons. This absence of key players likely impacted the Fire's performance as they faced off against a strong Lynx team.
The betting market reflected the Lynx's dominance, with DraftKings setting the spread at 12.5 points in favor of Minnesota, indicating a strong expectation for their performance. The total points line was set at 186.5, suggesting a competitive scoring game.
The game conditions were ideal for basketball, with both teams taking advantage of the opportunity to showcase their skills. Fans witnessed a thrilling fourth quarter, where the Lynx managed to edge out the Fire in the final moments. Key plays included a crucial three-foot shot by Kayla McBride that put the Lynx ahead, followed by free throws from Olivia Miles and McBride that sealed the victory.
As the game unfolded, viewers were treated to a showcase of talent and determination from both teams, with the Lynx demonstrating their ability to perform under pressure and the Fire fighting valiantly despite their injury setbacks. The Lynx's victory not only solidifies their position in the league but also highlights the challenges the Fire face as they navigate a tough season.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | MIN -12.5 | 186.5 o -115 / u -105 | Minnesota Lynx -750 · Portland Fire +525 |
Injury report
- Carla LeiteOutNot Injury RelatedPortland Fire
- Frieda BuhnerOutNot Injury RelatedPortland Fire
- Luisa GeiselsoderOutPersonalPortland Fire
- Sarah Ashlee BarkerOutKneePortland Fire
- Sania FeaginOutKneePortland Fire
- Elena BuenavidaOutCoach's DecisionMinnesota Lynx
- Antonia DelaereOutNot Injury RelatedMinnesota Lynx
- Dorka JuhaszOutNot Injury RelatedMinnesota Lynx
Leaders
- PointsBridget Carleton16Portland Fire
- AssistsTeja Oblak9Portland Fire
- ReboundsMegan DiLeo7Portland Fire
- PointsNapheesa Collier20Minnesota Lynx
- AssistsOlivia Miles7Minnesota Lynx
- ReboundsNatasha Howard12Minnesota Lynx
Recent form
Portland Fire
Last 10: 4-6Streak W293.3 scored · 93.2 allowed per game2-3 at home
- W100-93vs Seattle StormAug 9
- W97-83vs Toronto TempoAug 7
- L101-106vs Los Angeles SparksAug 2
- L98-112vs Indiana FeverAug 1
- L83-98at Las Vegas AcesJul 29
- L97-101vs Dallas WingsJul 23
- L93-101at Minnesota LynxJul 19
- W75-56at Washington MysticsJul 16
- L87-90at Connecticut SunJul 14
- W102-92at Atlanta DreamJul 11
Minnesota Lynx
Last 10: 9-1Streak W298.3 scored · 88.9 allowed per game3-0 away
- W103-90vs Dallas WingsAug 9
- W98-87vs Las Vegas AcesAug 8
- L82-89vs Los Angeles SparksAug 7
- W108-100vs Indiana FeverAug 2
- W104-72at Toronto TempoJul 31
- W100-93vs Toronto TempoJul 29
- W86-76at Seattle StormJul 22
- W105-102at Seattle StormJul 21
- W101-93vs Portland FireJul 19
- W96-87vs Los Angeles SparksJul 15
Standings
| Team | Games behind | Lost | Streak | Win % | Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | - | 9 | L2 | .775 | 31 |
| Golden State | 2 | 11 | W4 | .725 | 29 |
| Las Vegas | 4 | 13 | W3 | .675 | 27 |
| Dallas | 7 | 16 | W4 | .600 | 24 |
| Portland | 15 | 24 | L1 | .400 | 16 |
| Los Angeles | 16 | 25 | W2 | .375 | 15 |
| Phoenix | 17 | 26 | W1 | .350 | 14 |
| Seattle | 23 | 32 | L1 | .200 | 8 |
Box score
| Stat | Minnesota Lynx | Portland Fire |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 30-65 | 32-71 |
| Field goal % | 46 | 45 |
| Three-pointers | 6-20 | 8-31 |
| Three-point % | 30 | 26 |
| Free throws | 19-26 | 9-16 |
| Free throw % | 73 | 56 |
| Rebounds | 35 | 39 |
| Offensive rebounds | 6 | 11 |
| Defensive rebounds | 29 | 28 |
| Assists | 22 | 21 |
| Steals | 9 | 7 |
| Blocks | 5 | 4 |
| Turnovers | 10 | 14 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 1 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 19 | 16 |
| Fast-break points | 10 | 11 |
| Points in the paint | 40 | 46 |
| Fouls | 16 | 19 |
| Largest lead | 29 | 2 |
| Lead changes | 1 | 1 |
| Time in front | 97 | 1 |
How the scoring went
- 3rd Quarter62-35Napheesa Collier makes free throw 1 of 1
- 3rd Quarter64-35Natasha Howard makes 2-foot layup (Courtney Williams assists)
- 3rd Quarter64-37Megan DiLeo makes layup
- 3rd Quarter64-39Megan DiLeo makes two point shot
- 3rd Quarter64-41Bridget Carleton makes driving layup
- 3rd Quarter64-43Frieda Buhner makes 4-foot layup (Teja Oblak assists)
- 3rd Quarter64-45Serah Williams makes running layup (Teja Oblak assists)
- 3rd Quarter64-47Bridget Carleton makes 14-foot pullup jump shot
- 3rd Quarter64-49Frieda Buhner makes driving layup
- 3rd Quarter66-49Natasha Howard makes two point shot (Kayla McBride assists)
- 3rd Quarter68-49Olivia Miles makes driving layup
- 3rd Quarter68-50Karlie Samuelson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 3rd Quarter68-51Karlie Samuelson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter68-53Bridget Carleton makes 12-foot turnaround jump shot (Teja Oblak assists)
- 4th Quarter68-55Megan DiLeo makes 7-foot driving floating jump shot
- 4th Quarter68-58Teja Oblak makes 26-foot three point jumper (Serah Williams assists)
- 4th Quarter68-60Frieda Buhner makes 7-foot driving floating jump shot (Teja Oblak assists)
- 4th Quarter68-61Bridget Carleton makes technical free throw
- 4th Quarter68-62Bridget Carleton makes free throw 1 of 1
- 4th Quarter68-64Teja Oblak makes 4-foot two point shot
- 4th Quarter70-64Kayla McBride makes 5-foot two point shot
- 4th Quarter70-66Bridget Carleton makes driving layup (Teja Oblak assists)
- 4th Quarter72-66Courtney Williams makes 19-foot pullup jump shot
- 4th Quarter72-69Bridget Carleton makes 26-foot three point jumper (Teja Oblak assists)
- 4th Quarter74-69Napheesa Collier makes layup (Natasha Howard assists)
- 4th Quarter74-72Teja Oblak makes 24-foot running jump shot (Bridget Carleton assists)
- 4th Quarter76-72Kayla McBride makes 5-foot two point shot
- 4th Quarter76-74Bridget Carleton makes 14-foot pullup jump shot
- 4th Quarter77-74Napheesa Collier makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter78-74Olivia Miles makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter78-76Megan DiLeo makes 4-foot layup (Teja Oblak assists)
- 4th Quarter78-77Emily Engstler makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter80-77Kayla McBride makes 3-foot two point shot
- 4th Quarter81-77Olivia Miles makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter82-77Olivia Miles makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter83-77Kayla McBride makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter84-77Kayla McBride makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter84-78Teja Oblak makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter85-78Courtney Williams makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter85-81Emily Engstler makes 26-foot three point jumper (Bridget Carleton assists)
Win probability
Above the line favours Portland Fire, below favours Minnesota Lynx.
Venue
- Moda CenterPortland, OR
- Attendance13270
- OfficialsMaj Forsberg, Ryan Sassano, Ken Jones
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