Parker lifts Sparks to 81-71 win over Lynx, forces Game 3

The two teams will play the decisive Game 3 on Tuesday in New York.

Moore took over in the third quarter, scoring 15 points and giving the Lynx a lead as big as 12 points, before Los Angeles clawed back into the game late. We got deflections, got tips.

Both Lynx players agreed afterwards on what it takes for Minnesota to close out the series in Los Angeles Sunday: Fowles said the Lynx must “keep our feet down” when they get a lead against the Sparks.

Parker scored 15 points in the second quarter on 5-for-7 shooting.

At the start of the season, with Diana Taurasi taking the year off, Brittney Griner suspended, and the entire core (except for Janel McCarville) back in Minnesota, the Lynx were the clear favorite to win a third WNBA title in five years, and there was a belief that they would simply not be challenged. Minnesota, which made just four of its 14 shots from the field in the quarter, managed to chip away late, but Los Angeles led 36-33 at halftime. As the Target Center crowd booed in disapproval, former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura rose from his seat just off the back corner courtside seats, angrily pointed his index finger and yelled at Wooten.

Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike left the game in the third quarter with a neck strain and did not return after she was struck in a tangle of players in the paint.

The MSR got a quick analysis from two coaches in the closing seconds of Minnesota’s two-point win over Los Angeles Friday in Game One of the Western conference semifinals. Moore, who was coming off a playoff career-high 33-point game in Game 1, lamented the second quarter.

“I don’t think we believe in moral victories – we lost, so I think if you look at what’s glaring on the stat sheet, it’s the first quarter and the third quarter”, said Parker.

Sylvia Fowles finally looked at home in the Lynx’s defensive scheme causing multiple turnovers for the Sparks throughout the night.

Augustus hasn’t played since an August 19 home game against the Washington Mystics.

Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve said, “Brunson and her defense won that game for us”.

In order to achieve their goal, the Lynx will need Augustus and Whalen to round into form quickly, and Maya Moore to step up her game to MVP level. Neither of these teams get much production at all from their second unit, finishing 11th and 12th in the league in bench scoring, and in the Lynx’ case, a lot of that was due to the injuries.

Now the series reverts to California for Sunday’s Game 2 which will be held at the Walter Pyramid on the campus of Long Beach State University for a 2 p.m. Connecticut matchup. On the other end of the court, Cruz is a valuable perimeter defender, and helped turn the Lynx into the league’s second best defense this season, as they allowed just 93.95 points per 100 possessions.

This section has focused on just one player in the rest of our WNBA Playoff Previews, but it wouldn’t be right or fair to choose between Maya Moore or Candace Parker, so let’s just talk about both of them.