Jackson scores 31 as Storm prevail in WNBA opener

SEATTLE — On opening night, Lauren Jackson still looked like the MVP.

Jackson scored 31 points and Betty Lennox added 18 points and 10 rebounds in her Seattle debut, leading the Storm to an 88-85 win over the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA opener for both teams Thursday night.

Jackson, last season’s league MVP, had 20 second-half points. She hit 11 of 16 from the floor and missed one of eight free throws. She also had five rebounds and two blocked shots.

“All our plays, in some shape or form, go through Lauren because she draws so much attention,” said Sue Bird, who scored 17 for Seattle. “At the end, it was a combination of her making some pretty unbelievable shots and for whatever reason they stopped doubling her.”

Jackson scored 16 points in the last 10 minutes, including a stretch of 14 straight for Seattle. It was her 54th straight game scoring in double figures, tying Lisa Leslie of Los Angeles for second place in league history.

Teresa Edwards and Katie Smith each scored 17 points for Minnesota, while rookie Nicole Ohlde added 16 and another rookie, Tasha Butts, added 13. Stacey Lovelace-Tolbe had 12.

“It’s definitely a learning experience,” Ohlde said. “We’re still learning about each other.”

Jackson took over in the closing minutes, just when it seemed the Lynx had enough momentum to win. Minnesota erased a 39-36 halftime deficit with a 17-9 run to gain control early in the second half.

Jackson had two 3-pointers and a three-point play in the final 7:32. Her two free throws with 2:34 to go pulled Seattle within a point at 80-79 and she had another three-point play to put the Storm ahead 84-82 with 1:23 remaining.

After Edwards made one of two free throws, she missed a 3-point try with the shot clock winding down.

Lennox, obtained in the dispersal draft from Cleveland, hit one of two free throws to put Seattle up 85-83, then slapped the ball away from Edwards when she drove. Sheri Sam came away with it, hitting two free throws to seal the win.