Alexander Shun

Web Editor Associate | @alexpshun 

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS | LYNX LEAD SERIES 1-0

Minnesota Lynx (1-0) at Phoenix Mercury (0-1) | 2:00 P.M. CT

WHERE TO WATCH: ESPN

WHERE TO LISTEN: 106.1 BOB FM

The hardest part of any playoff series in any sport is winning a game on the road. So it’s only fitting that the Minnesota Lynx, to clinch their spot in the WNBA Finals today, must win their game against the Phoenix Mercury on the road in Phoenix; and the road has not been kind to the Lynx this season.

After going 9-8 on the road in the regular season, the Lynx lost their only road playoff game thus far, a game two loss in the Western Conference Semifinals to the Los Angeles Sparks. To make matters worse, the Lynx have lost all three games in Phoenix this season and have not won a game there since an 82-77 victory on July 21, 2013.

The Mercury have been tough to take down at home, yet have not been unbeatable.

Phoenix finished the regular season with a 13-4 record at home and have not lost at home since an August 21, 78-68 defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Sparks, having won their last four home games, including a 91-67 blowout of the Tulsa Shock in game one of the Western Conference Semifinals.

With a trip to the WNBA Finals on the line, the Lynx will have all the motivation necessary to steal a win on the road, but will they be able to overcome a determined Mercury team aided by a raucous Phoenix crowd that is hoping to see their team repeat as champions? That remains to be seen, but after a game one victory over the Mercury on Thursday night, Minnesota knows what they must do to beat the defending champs but are also well aware that the Mercury are going to come out today energized on their home floor.

“This team will respond,” Mercury head coach Sandy Brondello said, “We’re a very resilient bunch and we’ve faced a lot of adversity so we’ll regroup, come out on our home floor and put on a show.”

“It’s always tough playing on the road, it gets a little tougher though when you’re playing in Phoenix,” Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve said. “We know how good they can be on their home floor but we also know how talented we are and how good we can be, so they might be playing at home but we’re going to give them a really, really tough game.”

To steal a win on the road and send themselves to the WNBA Finals for the fourth time in five years, the Lynx will need another dominant performance from their frontcourt like the one they received on Thursday night.

Game two may be played in Phoenix, but if the Lynx win this afternoon, there is sure to be a party in Minnesota tonight.

LAST MEETING

In game one last Friday night, the Lynx and Mercury flexed their defensive muscles and showed exactly what made them two of the best defensive teams in the league this year.

Both teams were held under 40 percent shooting, each team scored over 20 points in a quarter only once and both team forced 12 turnovers from the other. Minnesota accumulated six steals and five blocks while Phoenix collected eight steals and five blocks; showing just how good these two teams are defensively.

Despite a back-and-forth first half, the Lynx managed to slowly pull away, building their lead as big as nine points, before holding on late to win 67-60 and grab game one of the Western Conference Finals.

Forward Rebekkah Brunson and center Sylvia Fowles were downright dominant for Minnesota, combining for 25 points, 33 rebounds, two assists, three steals and four blocks while shutting down the Mercury frontcourt…and I mean truly shutting them down.

Mercury All-Star center Brittney Griner entered game one averaging 20.5 points, 10 rebounds and eight blocks in the playoffs; Fowles held Griner to just nine points, six rebounds and two blocks. Forward Candice Dupree had been having a rather quiet playoffs for Phoenix averaging just 10 points and 3.5 rebounds entering Friday night’s contest, but played better against Minnesota. Dupree finished with a quiet eight points and 12 rebounds while being made essentially invisible by the great defense of Brunson.

Guard DeWanna Bonner was the only Mercury player to score in double-digits last Thursday night, finishing with 21 points while adding three rebounds and five assists in a hard-fought loss.

Forward Maya Moore pitched in 19 points, seven rebounds and four assists for the Lynx, helping guide them to a game one victory.

KEY MATCH-UP: SEIMONE AUGUSTUS VS. DEWANNA BONNER

After game one, everyone wants to talk about the frontcourts. For the Lynx, Brunson and Fowles were unstoppable and made their performances even better by shutting down the extremely talented frontcourt of Griner and Dupree that Phoenix boasts. While those four superstars are going to play very well and assumedly have a profound impact on the game, none are seemingly going to ultimately decide the outcome of the game the way that guards Seimone Augustus and DeWanna Bonner will.

In game one Bonner showed off all the skills that have made her a household name this season, draining deep three-point shots, penetrating and getting points in the paint, making great passes and playing solid defense against arguably the best player in the league in Lynx forward Maya Moore. Averaging 18.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and three assists in her three playoff games this year, Bonner was a huge reason why the Mercury swept the Shock and was the only real contributor for Phoenix in game one on Thursday night. If Phoenix hopes to avoid elimination this afternoon and force a pivotal game three, Bonner is going to need to absolutely take over, especially if her frontcourt is being held quiet like in game one.

Guard Seimone Augustus missed a lot of games this season, including the end of the regular season due to a foot sprain. The way Augustus has played in the playoffs to this point, she’s certainly showing no signs of rust, playing as though she hasn’t missed a step. In her four playoff games this year, Augustus is averaging 15.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and three assists, including a 14 point, three rebound, two assist performance in game one. As well as Bonner has to play to help Phoenix avoid elimination, Augustus will have to play just as well if not better if the Lynx hope to eliminate their Western Conference rivals and clinch their spot in the WNBA Finals.

These two great guards are going to battle all game long and would not surprise anyone if both managed to score 20+ points for their respective teams. They’re going to have to be on the top of their games this afternoon and it is safe to assume that both Bonner and Augustus are going to put on quite a show.

PROJECTED STARTERS

Lynx: PG – Whalen, SG – Augustus, SF – Moore, PF – Brunson, C – Fowles

Mercury: PG – Xargay, SG – Bonner, SF – Currie, PF – Dupree, C – Griner