Lynx gameday preview

7 p.m. Friday at New York Liberty • ION

Lynx update: The Lynx (11-13) will be without leading scorer Napheesa Collier against the Liberty. Collier left Wednesday’s game — a 97-92 victory over Washington at Target Center — with 3:21 remaining in the fourth quarter because of an injury to her right ankle and did not return. This game, which is a makeup of the June 7 game that was postponed due to air quality in New York, begins a stretch of six of seven on the road. After New York, the Lynx play back-to-back games at Connecticut (Sunday and Tuesday). … Jessica Shepard, who missed 14 games because of illness, returned on Wednesday and had eight points and three rebounds in 12½ minutes in the victory over the Mystics, which was just the second in the past six games for the Lynx. … Rachel Banham (fractured thumb) is expected to be sidelined until mid-August.

New York update: The Liberty improved to 18-5 — the best season start in franchise history — with a 95-84 victory over Atlanta on Thursday in New York. Their fourth straight victory gave the Liberty sole possession of first in the Eastern Confrence. … On Sunday, the Liberty scored 44 points in the first quarter en route to a 101-83 victory over visiting Indiana. The 44 points set a WNBA record for most points in a single quarter. The WNBA switched to quarters, instead of halves, in 2006. … Breanna Stewart is second in the league in scoring (22.6 points per game) and tied for fourth in rebounding (9.3 per game). … Sabrina Ionescu is second in the WNBA in three-point field goals made (70). Ionescu is averaging 16.0 points per game and shooting 42.9 % from three-point range.