The Game

Minnesota is hot, but it is about to be put to the test. It’s time for the Lynx to prove their mettle on the road.

With the talent the Mercury have, they are never easy to play against, but the hotly-contested playoff race both teams are involved in adds another level to the competition. The Lynx hold a two-game lead over the Mercury and have the tiebreaker. However, the Lynx could move up to the No. 5 or No. 6 seed with a combination of wins and a few losses by the Storm or Sky.

The Lynx’s fans are important to them. They want to play a playoff game at home. Focus in practice has been incredible this week and this team wants to win badly. To do so, they’ll need another excellent performance from Sylvia Fowles against Brittney Griner, another focused defensive effort from Napheesa Collier against DeWanna Bonner and they’ll need Odyssey Sims to go toe-to-toe with arguably the greatest to ever play the game—Diana Taurasi.

Taurasi hasn’t been the same since she returned from a back injury, but she is liable to break out any game. The Lynx need to make sure it isn’t against them. The Mercury have lost two in a row and they’re certainly interested in regaining their form ahead of the playoffs.

What: Lynx at Mercury
When: 9 p.m.
Where: Talking Stick Resort Arena
Watch: Fox Sports North Plus, League Pass
Listen: BOB FM 106.1.

Lynx Connection

Phoenix coach Sandy Brondello not only coached Lynx forward Steph Talbot on the Mercury last year but continues to coach her with the Australian National Team. The two won the silver medal in the 2018 FIBA World Cup and remain close.

Something You Might Not Have Known…

The Lynx have won both their games against the Mercury despite only shooting 41.6 percent from the field and averaging 66.5 points per game against them. However, the Mercury haven’t seen this Lynx team since the All-Star break. In the 12 games since then, the Lynx offense has been on fire. They are averaging 83.2 points per game and shooting almost 50 percent from the field. The Mercury are not an elite defensive team but they’re certainly no slouches—it will be a good test.

Injury Report:

Lynx: Karima Christmas-Kelly (knee) and Jessica Shepard (ACL) are out.
Mercury: Alanna Smith (ankle) is out.

Probable Starters: 

Lynx: PG—Sims, SG—Talbot, SF—Collier, PF—Dantas, C—Fowles
Mercury: PG—Taurasi, SG—Mitchell, SF—Bonner, PF—Turner, C—Griner