Three-point shooting has been a primary Lynx calling card this season.

It was again in Las Vegas late Tuesday.

Bridget Carleton tied a career-high with five of the team’s season-high-tying 15 makes from deep and the Lynx used balanced scoring to win 100-86 over the two-time defending WNBA champion Aces.

Minnesota (9-3) has won five of six.

It did so with a balanced offensive attack. All starters scored in double figures. Minnesota’s 55.8% field-goal percentage is a season high.

Alanna Smith finished with a solid all-around stat line of 18 points, four rebounds and added three assists to go along with a block and steal.

Kayla McBride had 16 points and added eight assists but was just 2 of 3 from deep. Having made 15 3-pointers in her prior two games, McBride missed tying a WNBA record of 19 in three games set by Diana Taurasi and Cynthia Cooper.

Napheesa Collier (24) of the Minnesota Lynx drives against A’ja Wilson (22) of the Las Vegas Aces in the second quarter of their game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on June 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Courtney Williams had 15 points and nine assists.

Napheesa Collier overcame early foul trouble to finish with 14 points, six assists and six rebounds on a day she was officially named to the U.S. Women’s National Team roster that’ll compete at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Minnesota led by 20 early in the fourth quarter, but the Aces got within 11 midway through the fourth. Smith halted that momentum with Minnesota’s 14th 3-pointer of the night. A trey from Carleton pushed the lead back to 17.

Tops in the league in assists per game at 24.2 entering the game, the Lynx had a season-high 34 on 37 baskets. Minnesota scored 21 points off 14 Las Vegas turnovers.

A’ja Wilson led Las Vegas (5-5) with 28 points, but the Aces have lost three straight and four of five.

By finishing 4-1 in Commissioner’s Cup games, the WNBA’s annual in-season competition, the Lynx put themselves in a good spot to represent the Western Conference in the June 25 championship game at New York that has $500,000 on the line.

In simplest terms, if Las Vegas beats Phoenix Thursday, the Lynx are in.

Minnesota shot 62.9% from the field in the opening two quarters, including nine 3-pointers, capped by one from Carleton in the final second of the first half, for a 59-48 lead at the break.

It is the most points scored by the Lynx in a half this season and the most first-half points allowed by Las Vegas since 2020.

Las Vegas scored just 12 points in the third quarter, throwing up eight 3-point misses, as the Lynx methodically pulled away to lead by 18 entering the fourth quarter.

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