Minnesota was supposedto serve as the second-half squad, implementing changes at halftime, gaining momentum in critical moments, and finishing games when it mattered most — based on what has transpired in the past week.
The Lynx accomplished it during their first-round victory over Golden State, and once more on Sunday in Game 1 against Phoenix.
Not Tuesday night.
In the second game of the WNBA semifinals, Phoenix made a strong comeback from a 20-point deficit in the third quarter, defeating the Lynx 89-83 in overtime to level the best-of-five series at 1-1.
Phoenix performed well by being aggressive [in the second half], but I believe we defeated ourselves,Lynx forward Napheesa Colliernoted, “unforced turnovers, not handling the ball properly when they were applying pressure.”
BOX SCORE: Phoenix 89, Lynx 83 (Overtime)
With under 30 seconds left, the Lynx had just taken a breather with a pair of free throws byCourtney Williams, up 79-76. However, after regaining the ball following an offensive rebound by Phoenix’s point-forwardAlyssa Thomas, Sami WhitcombShe made her second attempt at a step-back three-point shot to tie the game with 3.4 seconds remaining.
Phoenix coach Nate Tibbettsadmitted he believed the Lynx, leading by three, would employ their final foul to disrupt the play, but Minnesota held back, according tocoach Cheryl ReeveHis direction — “In hindsight, I do like a foul there, but I didn’t instruct them to,” she said later — and Whitcomb managed to make it happen.
“That’s what top players, top scorers do,” Tibbetts said.
Collier, who had only managed five points in the second half, failed to make a jump shot as the clock ran out, which would have secured the victory. During the five-minute overtime session, Phoenix scored the initial six points before Williams and Collier responded with consecutive baskets, narrowing the Lynx’s lead to 85-83 with 30 seconds left.
But an infraction on Thomas byAlanna Smithallowed the Mercury to secure it from the line, and they succeeded. Thomas made four last free throws to end with 19 points, 13 assists, and eight rebounds.
The Mercury won a game away from home before returning to Phoenix, where Games 3 and 4 will be held on Friday and Sunday. The prize? A position in the WNBA Finals. The Lynx must win both games to prevent a decisive Game 5 in Minneapolis next Tuesday.
The Lynx were ahead 59-39 with 5:45 remaining in the third quarter. This was before their shooting declined and turnovers increased due to heightened pressure from Phoenix on the ball.
“I believe that’s what a team would do following a first half that didn’t go as planned,” Reeve stated. “I think our reaction was somewhat out of the ordinary,” with five of the Lynx’s 16 turnovers occurring in the third quarter.
“I can demonstrate four turnovers that occurred within a minute and a half, none of which were related to Phoenix, and they caused us to be unsettled,” Reeve stated.
With 3 minutes and 32 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Phoenix’s power forwardSatou Saballymade a and-one after a layup, fouled by Williams, to make the score 70-70. Sabally led the team with 24 points.
The Lynx couldn’t create distance from that moment forward, finding it difficult to match Phoenix’s outside shooting (13 made out of 32 three-pointers), in contrast to their own weak performance (7 made out of 28).
The [offensive] boards assist them,Lynx guard Kayla McBridenoted. “I believe that in the first half, we were doing a good job at preventing them from scoring more than one point.”
A five-second violation by the Lynx during a throw-in with 46.8 seconds remaining also provided the Mercury with an additional chance in a critical moment, which Thomas utilized to narrow the deficit to one point.
That was “massive,” Reeve said. “My break came too late.”
For a team that frequently relies on its bench, four of Minnesota’s starters carried the load in Game 2, as Williams, McBride, Smith, and Collier each scored in double figures, accounting for 78 of the Lynx’s 83 points.
Minnesota scored just two points fromBridget Carletonand three points from its substitute players, fromJessica Shepard, who also grabbed seven rebounds. Meanwhile, Phoenix scored 25 points off its bench, including the game-tying three by Whitcomb.
As Phoenix tightened its grip on Collier (24 points, six rebounds) and increased the pressure to cause Williams to commit seven turnovers, McBride — who played a total of 42 minutes — attempted to hold off the Mercury in the second half, ending with 21 points and making 4 out of 8 three-pointers.
Phoenix currently has home-court advantage, with Game 3 (Friday) and Game 4 (Sunday) secured. If both games are split in Arizona, a decisive Game 5 will take place in Minneapolis. The victor of this series will face the winner of the semifinal matchup between No. 2 Las Vegas and No. 6 Indiana.
Surely, it’s frustrating, but it’s a series, a lengthy one, that’s now set,” Collier stated. “So we have to go to Phoenix and handle things.
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