Alexander Shun
Web Editor Associate | @alexpshun
LYNX WIN SERIES 2-1
In a pivotal, win or go home game three, the Minnesota Lynx came out firing on all cylinders defensively and, in the end, used their defense to hold off the Los Angeles Sparks 91-80 and win the series 2-1 while clinching a berth in the Western Conference Finals against the Phoenix Mercury.
The Lynx were led by a balanced offensive attack and overwhelming defensive presence. Five Lynx players scored in double-figures tonight including a 12 point performance from forward Devereaux Peters and nine point performance from guard Anna Cruz. Forward Maya Moore scored 20 points for Minnesota despite shooting just 6-of-21 (29 percent) from the floor, including going 0-of-4 from beyond the arc.
But her teammates stepped up and helped to carry the offensive load. Guard Lindsay Whalen pitched in 14 points, guard Seimone Augustus pitched in 16 points and center Sylvia Fowles added 13 points, including nine points in the fourth quarter to help seal the Lynx victory.
“That’s what we talked about, we wanted balanced scoring after game one,” Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve said. “We had to have the balance to be successful. 77 [points] was the number we thought we had to get to offensively, and in order to do that, we had to have the balance.”
“We had some of our best offensive plays where we just kind of played off each other, we flowed together,” said Whalen. “Like you said, multiple players in double-figures, the scoring was really spread out and I thought we were just sharing the ball and making the kicks.”
For Los Angeles, they were once again led by forward Candace Parker who scored a game-high 28 points while adding 13 rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocked shots. Forward Nneka Ogwumike, playing after suffering a strained neck in game two, added 12 points while guard Kristi Toliver added 12 points as well in the loss.
The first quarter was all about the defense with both teams shooting under 40 percent and the Lynx holding Los Angeles to just 4-of-15 (26.7 percent) shooting, including 0-of-3 from beyond the arc. The Lynx dominated the first quarter in the paint, outscoring the Sparks 14-6 and building themselves an 18-10 lead at the end of the first.
The second quarter was much better offensively for Los Angeles as they shot 8-of-11 (72 percent) in the quarter while scoring 14 of their 20 quarter points in the paint. As well as the Sparks played in the quarter, the Lynx played even better, shooting 11-of-21 (52 percent) in the quarter while dropping 25 points and pushing their lead to 43-30 at the half.
“They came out the gate in the first half and it was tough pressure, but we handled it in the second half,” Parker said. “I just think we were stagnant in the first half and that shot us in the foot, but we were able to bounce back and make it a game.”
Indeed they did.
Just when it seemed that Minnesota was going to run away with the game, Los Angeles made their run and used a solid third quarter to cut the Lynx lead to just six points, setting up a dramatic and crucial fourth quarter showdown.
The Sparks got dealt huge blows in the early fourth quarter when Ogwumike and upstart guard Ana Dabovic both received their fifth fouls and were relegated to the bench for a god portion of the quarter; the Lynx took full advantage of that.
“Honestly, it didn’t help,” said Sparks head coach Brian Agler, speaking about the absence of Ogwumike and Dabovic. “No matter what happens, we don’t make excuses, we play with the people that we have…we don’t worry about who’s not there, we only worry about who is there.”
Having the Lynx lead cut to just a single point, Fowles went on a scoring rampage and pushed the Lynx lead back to six; a performance her teammates had been waiting for.
“She struggled a bit in the first half, she struggled a bit in the third quarter and even early in the fourth quarter…we just kept telling her to stick with it though,” said Augustus. “It came out in the fourth quarter where she was able to get inside, get her hands on the ball inside, get to the free-throw line and really help us expand the lead and pull out the victory.”
Though the Sparks made another late run, they never got back within four and the Lynx were able to hold on and clinch their spot in the Western Conference Finals for the fifth-consecutive season.
“I think that our group is always hungry no matter what,” said Whalen. “It’s that time of year where players have to step up and make plays and our group did that tonight. We’ll enjoy this one for a couple hours and then start to get ready for Thursday night.”
LEADER OF THE PACK: SYLVIA FOWLES
The majority of WNBA playoff games are won and lost in the fourth quarter which is why the final frame is when teams need their big-time players to step up most. Tonight, Sylvia Fowles stepped it up in the fourth quarter.
With her team’s lead down to just a point, Fowles checked back in and took over the game offensively. Fowles had nine points in the final quarter to finish with 13 points on the night and got many key deflections late that led to steals and points for Minnesota.
Despite the dazzling offense, Fowles’ biggest contribution might have been on the defensive end, clogging the paint and forcing the Sparks to take outside shots which they consequently could not hit. Although Fowles did not register a blocked shot or steal in tonight’s game, her simple defensive presence, shot altering and confidence was enough down the stretch to will the Lynx to victory.
Fowles may not have lit up the stat sheet tonight, but she did everything right and came up biggest when the Lynx needed her most.
PLAY OF THE GAME
The Sparks were attempting to inbound the ball late in the fourth quarter and Moore was covering the inbounder, guard Temeka Johnson. Despite her best efforts, Johnson was unable to get the ball in in time and a five second violation was called resulting in another Sparks turnover and giving Minnesota the opportunity (which they capitalized on, I might add) to put points on the board and extend their lead.
Just how big of a play was it? Well I think Moore’s reaction says it all.
QUOTE-ABLE
“I really enjoy coaching and playing against them because they bring the best out of you and they challenge you,” said Sparks head coach Brian Agler, speaking about the Minnesota Lynx after they defeated his team and clinched a spot in the Western Conference Finals for the fifth-straight year.
QUICK HITS
–The Minnesota Lynx advance to the Western Conference Finals for the fifth consecutive season with tonight’s 91-80 victory of the Los Angeles Sparks. The Lynx improve to 18-2 all-time at home in the postseason and 16-1 under head coach Cheryl Reeve and are 25-12 all-time in the WNBA Playoffs. Both marks are the best for any team in league postseason history.
–Minnesota will open the Western Conference Finals on Thursday, September 24 against the Phoenix Mercury at Target Center at 7 p.m. Minnesota finished 2-3 in the five-game series with the Mercury this season. This year’s postseason meeting will be the fourth time the two clubs have met in the playoffs, also facing off in the 2014 Western Conference Finals (Phoenix won the series, 2-1), the 2013 Western Conference Semifinals (Minnesota won the series, 2-0) and the 2011 Western Conference Finals (Minnesota won the series, 2-0).
–The Lynx dominated on the glass tonight, outrebounding Los Angeles 40-27. Maya Moore led the team with eight rebounds and Rebekkah Brunson finished with seven. Tonight’s 13+ rebounding margin marks the fifth largest rebounding margin in Lynx playoff history. During the regular season the Lynx outrebounded the opposition by 10 or more five times and have won 40 consecutive regular season when outboarding their opponent by 10+.
-In Game 2 on Sunday the Sparks won the turnover battle but the Lynx answered tonight, swiping the ball nine times and converting 15 Los Angeles turnovers into 20 points. Minnesota had 10 miscues in the game which the Sparks turned into 11 points. The Lynx also outscored Los Angles 22-4 in second chance points, marking the third-most second chance points the Lynx have scored in postseason history.
–Devereaux Peters had a solid night off the bench, pouring in a playoff career-high 12 points. She also added five rebounds, three steals and three blocked shots in 19 minutes of play. Peters averaged just 3.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in 14.6 minutes per game this regular season.
–Los Angeles’ Candace Parker finished the game with a game-high 28 points and 13 rebounds, marking her 14th 20+ point game in the postseason and 10th career playoff double-double. In her playoff career, Parker has led the team in scoring on 15 instances and 12 times in rebounding since her arrival to the WNBA in 2008.
–Lindsay Whalen entered tonight’s game needing four points to overtake Katie Douglas for fifth place on the all-time scoring list. Whalen finished tonight’s contest with 14 points on 4-for-10 shooting, including a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line.
UP NEXT
The Minnesota Lynx will host the Phoenix Mercury for game one of the Western Conference Finals on Thursday night at Target Center. The game will begin at 7:00 P.M. CT and can be seen on ESPN 2 and heard on 106.1 BOB FM.