Business as usual for the Lynx as they defeat the Dream 88-63 in game two of the WNBA Finals
It was a déjà vu from 2011 in game two of the WNBA Finals Tuesday night as the Minnesota Lynx defeated the Atlanta Dream 88-63 in front of 12,313 fans at the Target Center. Just like in 2011 when the Lynx won the WNBA title in a 3-0 sweep, Minnesota satisfied fans with home victories before hitting the road to Georgia.
While Atlanta started the game disrupting the Lynx’s offense to earn a 4-0 lead, the Dream’s edge quickly dissipated. Minnesota’s Maya Moore and Rebekkah Brunson were defensive juggernauts early in the game. At 5:09 Moore wowed the crowd with an athletic block on Angel McCoughtry that sent the ball flying.
The Lynx ended the first quarter leading 27-16 and outscored the Dream 24-20 in the second stanza. At halftime Minnesota led 51-36.
In third quarter the Dream managed to close the gap as they continued to fight their way back into the game. Atlanta narrowed the deficit to 10 when Tiffany Hayes made an 11-point jumper putting the score at 57-47. However, that was as close as the Dream would get. At the end of the third the Lynx were ahead 68-52.
Seimone Augustus led the Lynx with 20 points. Moore added 14 plus eight rebounds. Lindsay Whalen also had 14 points. Janel McCarville contributed 11 points plus seven rebounds while Rebekkah Brunson earned a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
McCoughtry paced Atlanta with 15 points and Jasmine Thomas scored 11.
The best-of-five series goes to Atlanta for at least one more game. The Lynx have the momentum to sweep the Dream 3-0 but Atlanta will have home court advantage on Thursday, October 10. The game will be televised on ESPN 2 at 8:30 p.m. ET and will actually take place in Duluth at the Arena at Gwinnett Center.
