Lynx gearing up to host Los Angeles in 1st round of playoffs

The Minnesota Lynx will enjoy home court advantage Friday night as they tip off for the Western Conference Playoffs.

Maya Moore led the Lynx with 27 points, while Candace Parker scored 25 for the Sparks in the Western Conference semifinals, the Associated Press reports.

First they have to get by the Sparks, though, and that could prove tricky.

Beyond the injuries, the Lynx just haven’t been quite as sharp as we have become accustomed to.

“We’re constantly trying to make our own runs and make the next big play”, Moore said.

The Lynx opened the game on a 5-0 run with center Sylvia Fowles’s 6-foot hook shot and a three pointer by forward Maya Moore, and extended their lead to eight on a three pointer by guard Seimone Augustus, who saw her first action after missing the final eight regular season games with a sprained foot.

Candace Parker returns to save the season.

Ana Dabovic added a career-high 18 points for the Sparks, who won their first playoff game since 2013.

Candace Parker had 16 points and nine rebounds and Nneka Ogwumike added 14 points for Los Angeles.

Dominated by Minnesota in the opening quarter and trailing 22-15 after 10 minutes, the Sparks flipped the script in the second quarter.

The Fowles trade was a terrific move for the Lynx, getting an all-star caliber interior presence for very little in exchange, but it has taken some time to work her in to the lineup. “She’s not played in a game in a long time and there’s really not much rhythm”, said Reeve.

– The lone upset of the weekend, the Washington Mystics upset the New York Liberty 86-83 in a double overtime thriller, despite 48 combined points from New York’s Epiphanny Prince and Tina Charles; the Mystics have now defeated the Liberty four times this season and have the opportunity to lose out the series at home in D.C., Sunday. “Once I got into the groove it all felt normal and it felt like I was back”. “I took that first shot and it bounced back, but it felt great out there to be with my teammates and grinding it out”.

You need to self-correct when the third quarter – which has been a bugaboo all season – starts poorly and one of the league’s most experienced teams whittles a 22-point lead down to 65-61 with 8:45 to go in the game.

The game was played at Long Beach State because the Emmy Awards were held near Staples Center.

“It will probably be as competitive as tonight was”.

“She is extremely hungry”, Agler said. “Our focus right now is to keep moving, learn from this game and improve”. The Mercury blew out the Shock in game one of that series last night. “We’ve had to fight the whole year”. And though her efficiency dropped during these periods, Moore still lead the Lynx through the fray and has them in position for yet another championship.