Napheesa Collier had an historic night, and the Lynx continue to roll.

Collier finished with 27 points and a career-high 18 rebounds, including a first-half double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds, and the Lynx beat the Aces 87-74 at Target Center.

It is the first time in league history a player has had at least 25 points, 15 rebounds and five assists in a game while shooting at least 70% from the field. Collier was 11 of 15 shooting and had five assists.

Her 18 rebounds was one more than Las Vegas had as a team.

“We played gritty team defense at some points. We looked at things at halftime, and the level of focus I thought we came back with was really fun. When we’re moving like that it’s the most fun basketball. It’s been amazing to be part of. I feel like we’re getting our peak at the right time,” Collier said.

Minnesota (21-8) has won five straight, including all four after the Olympic break.

Alanna Smith finished with 15 points and seven rebounds. Courtney Williams added 13 points and seven assists before falling hard with 4:40 to play. Tended to by trainers, she walked off under her own power but did not return. Coach Cheryl Reeve did not have an update after the game.

Kayla McBride and Natisha Heideman each had a dozen points as Minnesota had five players score in double figures for the second straight game.

But this was all about Collier. And not just about offense, because she also led the defensive attempts to slow down A’ja Wilson, the league’s top scorer.

“It’s not just me, it’s team defense,” Collier said. “A’ja is an amazing player, and she is not going to be contained by one person. To play the team defense like we did is really what I think got us both those games.”

Still, Reeve acknowledges it all starts with Collier at both ends of the floor. “To be a highly successful team, your best player has to be the one you can count on.”

Minnesota defeated the two-time defending WNBA champion Aces in three of four meetings this season. The Lynx won 98-87 in Nevada on Wednesday, a game that saw the Lynx use an 8-0 run in the middle of the fourth quarter for final separation.

“More than anything, we want to make sure we had the appropriate level of compete, knowing how the Aces would feel going in after winning on their floor and the level of compete they would bring,” Reeve said.

Over about a three-minute span in the third quarter, the Lynx turned a seven-point lead into a 62-45 edge. Collier had five points in the stretch and Hiedeman made a 3-pointer, and most of the 9,124 in attendance were roaring.

But the Aces weren’t done, whittling the Lynx lead to six with 3:16 remaining, McBride drained a 3-pointer and Collier did the same 35 seconds later. A pair of free throws from Wilson got the Aces (17-11) within 10, but Collier fed Smith for a layup, making it 84-72.

“Phee is great every game. It’s fun to be a part of it and witness it,” Smith said.

“For every coach out there, you hope you get one Phee, because that’s the promised land,” Reeve said. “People want to play with her. People want to be a Minnesota Lynx because of Napheesa Collier.”

Minnesota is 13-3 at home, including 8-1 against Western Conference foes.

The Lynx return to Target Center on Saturday night with Caitlin Clark and Indiana in town — along with an expected few thousand University of Iowa fans. Minnesota will retire the No. 23 of Maya Moore Irons after the game.

Each team had offensive spurts in the opening half that resulted in a 40-39 Lynx lead at the break. Neither team led by more than seven.

Down 13-8 midway through the opening quarter, the Lynx scored the next 10 points – seven by Collier – including a fast-break layup after a steal and feed by McBride forcing an Aces timeout.

Las Vegas scored the final five points to make it 18-all after 10 minutes.

A McBride three pushed Minnesota’s lead to 31-24, but back-to-back 3-pointers from Megan Gustafson and Tiffany Hayes, a pair of Wilson free throws and a Kelsey Plum 3-pointer gave the Aces a four-point lead with 3:14 left before halftime.

Collier scored on a layup and short jumper in the half’s final minute.

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