There was a stretch Friday at Target Center where you could see the Chicago Sky's resolve melting away with miss after miss, their confidence waning.

"You could feel the team breaking," Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said after her team beat Chicago 83-66 for its fifth consecutive victory and its 12th in 13 games. "You could see the fatigue.''

This never gets tired.

It took a minute, but eventually, the Lynx cleaned the Sky's clock.

The way they did it was familiar, after another pesky slow start: defense, of the smothering variety.

After letting Chicago shoot over 50% while taking a six-point lead after a quarter, the Lynx held Chicago to 8-for-34 shooting while outscoring the Sky 48-22 over the second and third quarters.

The Lynx (28-9) matched the franchise record for victories in a season (the 2016 team went 28-6). They remained in second place in the WNBA standings, with games at New York (first place) and Connecticut (third) coming before a season finale at home against Los Angeles.

There was some impressive offense, too. Both Courtney Williams and Alanna Smith had double-doubles against their old team. Williams, who continues to marvel at opponents going under screens, made her final six shots, finishing with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Smith, whom the Sky had, in the past, hinted could not battle with Chicago inside, had a season-high 12 rebounds with 11 points.

Napheesa Collier had 20 points, eight boards, two steals and two blocks, while Kayla McBride became the first Lynx player to hit 100 three-pointers in a season.

But the defense.

Chicago (13-24) dropped out of the eighth and final playoff spot with the loss. The Sky hit just 16 of their final 51 shots over the final three quarters. Chennedy Carter (17 points) made her first four shots, then just three of her final 18. Kamilla Cardoso scored seven of her 16 in the first quarter.

The Lynx used a 24-13 second quarter to build a five-point halftime lead. Then they outscored the Sky 24-9 in the third. Not even an 11-0 Sky run to start the fourth changed much. McBride hit a couple of free throws, then Myisha Hines-Allen (11 points off the bench) hit a corner three and Chicago's time had run out.

It was particularly satisfying that both Smith and Williams had double-doubles against the team they played with last season.

"I think we had a really tough season last year," Smith said. "To come here together, and for this to be as successful as it's been, and have our own personal success as well? It's why you play. You want to play good basketball with good people."

And now, the stretch run. Guaranteed to finish no lower than third, first place is still a mathematical possibility for the Lynx. They would have to win out, including Sunday's game at New York. The Liberty would have to finish the season 0-3. The more likely battle is with the Sun for second; those two teams meet in Connecticut on Tuesday.

"Not that many people had us being able to win this many games," Reeve said. "Not that it matters now. What is, is how this team is winning games. We're hard to play against. We're winning at home. A lot of great things are happening for this team this year."