WNBA playoffs: 3 key takeaways from Lynx's Game 2 win over Sun

In the second game of their semifinal series, it was a physical battle between Connecticut and Minnesota, but the victory was based on the little things. The Lynx evened the series at 1-1 with a 77-70 win on Tuesday night.

Minnesota won the defensive battle, performed better off the bench and managed to find balance while the Suns limited Napheesa Collier.

“It was a collaborative effort,” coach Cheryl Reeve said. “That’s what we do and that’s what we saw tonight.”

defense

The game started ugly, with only 22 total points scored in the first quarter. And even though there were 125 points on the field in the remaining three quarters, things didn't get much nicer. Minnesota and Connecticut are two of the best defensive teams in the league, but the Lynx had the edge on Tuesday. They held Connecticut to 36.4% shooting and 25% from beyond the arc. That was a significant improvement from Game 1, when the Sun made 40.9% of their 3-point attempts to earn a 73-70 win.

The game was also changeable from the start. The physicality lent itself to an emotional affair in which neither team was afraid of contact or trash talk. This is something both teams expected at this point in the season.

“We had to match their energy,” said Courtney Williams of the Lynx. “In the first game they were chirping and chatting so we had to give it back to them. This is just playoff basketball.”

balance

Collier did a lot of the heavy lifting for Minnesota in the opening round, scoring 38 points in Game 1 and 42 points in Game 2. She also led the Lynx with 19 points in the first game against Connecticut. But in Game 2 of the semifinals, the Sun limited Collier's attacks and she didn't even attempt a shot in the second quarter. She scored just nine points on 14 shots, her season low.

“Phee did everything else. But for some reason she had trouble with some of the shots she got today,” Reeve said. “It's a difficult game. It's physically hard. She will feel more and more comfortable.”

Collier managed to impact the game in other ways, with 12 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 blocks, and the rest of the Lynx stepped up their scoring efforts.

Williams led the way with 17 points and Alanna Smith added 15. Smith, who struggled shooting in Game 1, going 0 of 4 from distance, bounced back Tuesday. She was 6 of 8 shooting and 3 of 4 from distance.

Kayla McBride added 11 points and Bridget Carleton had 9. All five Lynx starters made at least one 3-pointer.

bank

The Lynx won the battle for bench points, outscoring the Sun 16-4. But it wasn't just about scoring, as Minnesota's second unit also provided energy and defensive intensity.

Myisha Hines-Allen had seven points off the bench, but more importantly, at 6-foot-3 and a strong frame, she was able to keep up with Connecticut's strength.

“She’s a physical enforcer, but also a great player,” Smith said of Hines-Allen. “She’s a great passer, she bounces back, she scores really well. She does the little things well. You can’t sleep on our bench and she’s one of the main reasons why.”

Cecilia Zandalasini and Natisha Hiedeman also played crucial minutes on the bench. Zandalasini finished with five points, including a three-pointer that got the Lynx going in the first half, and Hiedeman added four points and two assists.

“We knew our bench was going to be important,” Reeve said. “A team whose bench steps up and contributes is a huge advantage. And each of the three who played tonight contributed in different ways.”