MINNEAPOLIS  — Rebekkah Brunson and Seimone Augustus each scored 16 points as the Minnesota Lynx became the second team in WNBA history to start 13-1 after beating the Phoenix Mercury 96-80 on Wednesday night.

Maya Moore had 15 points and Taj McWilliams-Franklin had 13 for the Lynx, who broke open a close game in the second half to match the 1998 Houston squad that started 20-1 en route to a 27-3 record.

Phoenix, playing the first game of a season-high four-game road trip, got 23 points from DeWanna Bonner. The Mercury stayed within single digits through three quarters, but fell to 3-9, losing to Minnesota for the third time this season.

Samantha Prahalis added 20 for the Mercury, but had to leave during the third quarter due to bleeding from a left leg injury.

The Lynx, used to winning handily on their home court en route to the league’s best record, could not shake the short-handed Mercury in the first half. That was mostly due to the efforts of Bonner, who hit a pair of three-pointers and had 18 points at the break. McWilliams-Franklin had 11 first half points to lead the Lynx, who scored the last seven points of the half to lead 51-45 after 20 minutes.

Phoenix already playing without injured regulars Penny Taylor and Diana Taurasi, also lost forward Candice Dupree for the game against Minnesota.

Listed as a starter in the pregame notes, Dupree was scratched with a left knee injury.

Taylor has missed the entire season, while Taurasi has played two games and is not expected back until after the Olympics.