Before the Lynx face the Sparks on Tuesday night, we’re going position by position and taking a look at the matchups that will define the first-round playoff contest. In our final entry, a talent that has defined our generation, and the elite defender trying to stop her…

It’s been true all season, and it will be true tonight—the Lynx go as Maya Moore goes. Moore has had an up and down season, but it’s undeniable that when she’s at her best, the Lynx win. Minnesota is 11-2 when Moore scores over 20 points. When she doesn’t? I’ll let you do the math.

The Sparks have zero interest in letting Moore go off on them tonight, and one person in particular will be taking the job very seriously: Alana Beard.

Beard doesn’t score nearly as much as she used to, but she’s a ringer on the defensive end. Ever since 2012, when Beard joined the Sparks, she’s taken it upon herself to stop Moore and the Lynx.

The 2017 Defensive Player of the Year is smart, tenacious and physical, capable of defending three positions at an elite level.

The Lynx need to balance getting Moore her shots and finding her in the flow of the offense. They need her to produce, but being guarded by an elite defender like Beard, pushing the ball to Moore on every possession isn’t the answer. Moore needs to deliver an incredible effort tonight, but the Lynx also need to put her in a position to succeed.

Moore can beat Beard, so the Lynx don’t need to use Moore as a decoy or overthink things too much, but she’ll certainly have her work cut out for her. Getting separation from Beard and hitting her midrange jumpers will be key. Moore is an incredibly creative scorer and she’ll need every ounce of that creativity tonight.

Read the rest of the series: 

Lindsay Whalen vs. Odyssey Sims
Seimone Augustus vs. Chelsea Gray
Sylvia Fowles vs. Candace Parker
Rebekkah Brunson and Cecilia Zandalasini vs. Nneka Ogwumike