WNBA: Mercury aiming for extra full effort in opposition to Lynx in Sport 2

The Phoenix Mercury will attempt to keep alive of their first-round WNBA playoff sequence in opposition to the Minnesota Lynx this Wednesday, Sept. 25. The Lynx, who gained Sport 1 of the sequence final weekend, will as soon as once more host the Mercury; tip-off is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET, and the sport will probably be broadcast nationally on ESPN.

Whereas it definitely wasn’t for an absence of effort in Sport 1, the No. 7-seed Mercury nonetheless discover themselves in an 0-1 gap after falling to Minnesota 102-95 within the sequence opener. The sport had all of the makings of an immediate traditional: The widely-favored Lynx led by as many as 23 factors early on, however the Mercury chipped away within the second half, finally taking a quick lead because of a flurry of 3-pointers and an outstanding efficiency by Natasha Cloud (career-high 33 factors and 10 assists).

Picture by David Sherman/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs

In the long run, although, Minnesota proved why it’s the No. 2-seeded group within the WNBA playoffs. Star ahead Napheesa Collier was at her absolute best, scoring a game-high 38 factors, and the Lynx as a group had been extremely environment friendly offensively, recording assists on 30 of their 34 made area targets and making 24 of their 25 free throw makes an attempt (96 %). After a Cloud layup put the Mercury forward 92-91, Minnesota completed the sport on an 11-3 run, highlighted by a Bridget Carleton 3-pointer that sealed the deal for the Lynx.

And so, regardless of their efforts, the Mercury discover themselves getting into Sport 2 with their backs in opposition to the wall. Head coach Nate Tibbetts expressed confidence in his group’s skill to hold their second-half play into Wednesday, whereas additionally stressing the significance of sustaining that play for a full 40 minutes. “We actually discovered ourselves within the second half [of Game 1], and we have to construct off that,” Tibbetts stated of his group’s mentality heading into Sport 2. “We will’t take a step again.”

Whereas the numbers for Phoenix had been principally spectacular in Sport 1, there are definitely a number of areas the Mercury can enhance upon in Sport 2 to provide themselves a greater probability. Getting outscored 56-42 within the first half is an apparent one, as is middle Brittney Griner solely getting 10 shot makes an attempt from the sphere.

Picture by Jordan Johnson/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs

Equally, whereas the Lynx ended up profitable Sport 1, Minnesota head coach Cheryl Reeve is aware of they’ll must lock in on protection in Sport 2 to stop the Mercury from hanging round once more. Reeve stated throughout Lynx observe that Minnesota’s protection in Sport 1 “was not one of many prime defenses within the league;” throughout the common season, Minnesota ranked second within the WNBA in defensive score, however Reeve talked about that the Lynx allowed the Mercury to be too aggressive within the sequence opener.

Whichever changes are made, the winner of Sport 2 will nonetheless seemingly be determined by that group’s star participant. Collier is on the peak of her powers for Minnesota, whereas the Mercury have a number of candidates for breakout video games, together with Copper, Griner and the seemingly ageless Diana Taurasi, who scored 21 factors and hit 5 3-pointers in Sport 1. The Mercury have hinted on social media that this might be Taurasi’s ultimate season taking part in within the WNBA; Phoenix might want to heed Tibbetts’ message and are available out robust on Wednesday if her profession will prolong previous Sport 2 of the sequence.

Sport info

No. 7-seed Phoenix Mercury (0-1) at No. 2-seed Minnesota Lynx (1-0)

When: Wednesday, Sept. 25 at 9:30 p.m. ET

The place: Goal Middle in Minneapolis, MN

watch: ESPN

Mercury damage report: Charisma Osborne (questionable; leg), Rebecca Allen (out; again)

Lynx damage report: none