Game 1 of the semifinal series between the Minnesota Lynx and Connecticut Sun was just as physical and low-scoring as everyone expected. The Sun thrive in those situations, and were able to hold on down the stretch for a 73-70 win and a 1-0 series lead.
The old cliché “it’s a game of runs” was never more true than the first half of this one. There was a 9-0 burst by the Sun, a 15-0 surge by the Lynx and a 13-3 response by the Sun. The end result of all of those wild swings was a four-point lead for the road team.
After the break, it was the complete opposite. Neither team could sustain any sort of offense, and the biggest lead either team had was five points. That was the Lynx’s advantage at the end of the third quarter after Courtney Williams hit a huge 3-pointer just before the buzzer.
The Lynx were unable to carry that momentum into the fourth, however, and in fact managed just eight points in the final frame. The Sun weren’t great on offense either, but they were better than that. Alyssa Thomas, not known for her scoring, hit a push-shot jumper from the free throw line with 12 seconds remaining to extend the Sun’s lead to three. That proved to be enough, as the Lynx’s final possession was a disaster.
Thomas nearly recorded another triple-double, but had to settle for 17 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists and three steals, while Marina Mabrey added six 3-pointers and 20 points. Though she had a rough shooting night, DeWanna Bonner made some big plays down the stretch and added 10 points, 11 rebounds and five assists.
Napheesa Collier led the way for the Lynx in defeat with 19 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals. As a team, the Lynx, who led the league in 3-point shooting during the regular season, made just five of their 20 attempts from behind the arc.
