Lynx and Sparks are 2-0 in semifinals, Mystics and Mercury on verge of elimination
Minnesota 93, Washington 83
The Minnesota Lynx moved a step closer to reaching the WNBA Finals with a 91-80 defeat of the Washington Mystics in game two of the playoffs semifinals series between the teams. The Lynx are now 2-0 in the best-of-five series.
Early in the game, the Mystics had the upper hand leading the Lynx 29-19 after the first quarter. However, Minnesota roared back in the second period outscoring the Mystics 26-18 to whittle down the deficit to just two by the half. Washington led 47-45 heading into the break.
With about three minutes left in the third quarter, the Lynx tied the game up and took the lead at 1:19 in the period. The game was tied once in the fourth quarter and 4:37 but the Lynx held off the Mystics in the last minutes of the game to earn the win.
Sylvia Fowles, who was named the 2017 WNBA MVP earlier in the day, led Minnesota with 25 points, nine rebounds, four assists and four blocks. Three other Lynx players were in double figures including Maya Moore (22 points, five rebounds and five assists), Seimone Augustus (15 points and six assists), and Rebekkah Brunson (11 points and 10 rebounds).
Elena Delle Donne and Kristi Toliver led the Mystics with 25 points each. Delle Donne also had five rebounds while Toliver dished out six assists.
The teams resume the series Sunday, Sept. 17 in Washington, D.C. at 3 p.m. ET. If the series goes to four games, Washington will host game four at McDonough Arena on the campus of Georgetown University.
Los Angeles 86, Phoenix 72
Like Minnesota, the Los Angeles Sparks also went up 2-0 in the semifinals of the playoffs after beating the Phoenix Mercury 86-72 at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach.
The Sparks went on a 7-4 run to start the game. Phoenix fought back to tie the game 10-10 at the 6:43 mark of the first quarter. The Sparks closed out the last ten minutes on a 9-1 run and led 22-19 heading into the second quarter.
Candace Parker finished the first quarter with 12 points and nine rebounds, the most rebounds ever in a quarter during the playoffs.
The Sparks continued to lead until 3:57 in the second quarter when Phoenix tied the game up at 33. However, Los Angeles kept Phoenix at bay to go into the break with a 43-35 lead.
The Sparks never trailed in the second half. Parker led her team with 24 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and three blocks. Three other Sparks players were in double figures including Odyssey Sims (21 points), Nneka Ogwumike (18 points plus nine rebounds) and Chelsea Gray (15 points, six rebounds and six assists).
The series between the Sparks and the Mercury resumes in Phoenix on Sunday at 5 p.m. ET.
