Lynx 70, Sky 62: Minnesota’s Defense is the Sky’s Limit
Lynx 70, Sky 62: Minnesota’s Defense is the Sky’s Limit
The Minnesota Lynx finally got their first look at the Chicago Sky on the young squad’s home court. The Sky, who were still on the outside looking in for a playoff spot, had some momentum coming to this game. They dropped their most recent game to the defending champion Las Vegas Aces, but were victors in the two games prior to that. Both teams rostered one of four players in the WNBA who are averaging double-doubles so a battle in the frontcourt was ensuing.
The Start — Stuck in Neutral
After dropping a game to the last place Dallas Wings less than 72 hours ago due to careless play, the Lynx flexed their muscle early. A quick 7-0 sprint out of the blocks appeared to indicate that Cheryl Reeve had gotten through to her squad.
In the two minutes it took for Minnesota to gain that lead, they immediately squandered it in the same amount of time. Lindsey Allen (13p, 6r, 7p; 5/10 fg), who spent just a little over a season as the Lynx starting point guard, led the charge. After going just 1/11 (9.1%) from perimeter to start her first season with Chicago, she banged in two quick triples as the Sky ripped off a huge 14-2 run. It was as if the team that lost to the Wings checked back in the game, as the Lynx struggled to protect the ball. Even on the limited attempts they had from the field, they failed to get their shots to fall (35% from the field). Most notably, Napheesa Collier (13 p, 11 r, 6 a, 7 stocks; 5/13 fg) was scoreless on the period as she entered the day with a sprained right wrist from practice.
The Middle — Trudging Through Mud
Similar to the start of the first quarter, Alanna Smith (11 p, 7 r, 5 b) opened the second quarter with a score that ignited her team. It took the Lynx just over two minutes (again) to erase an eight-point deficit. They had multiple opportunities to build up a larger lead, but poor free throwing shooting and continued turnover issues allowed the Sky to withstand the Lynx run. Though Collier would finally score her first points midway in the second period, her struggles from the field represented her team’s, going field goal-less for the final four minutes of the half. By contrast, Allen’s (!) team would rip off a 7-0 run to regain a 39-34 lead.
Things would only get worse in the third quarter. Collier was uncharacteristically frustrated out there, misfiring forced shot after forced shot. After seven Lynx turnovers in the second quarter, their offensive issues would return in the form of poor shooting. Another sub-40% effort by Minnesota allowed Chicago to lead by nine multiple times, but the Sky’s lack of efficiency on that end also kept them from shutting the door completely. Every time you looked at the scoreboard, the Lynx were somehow still within two to three possessions.
The Finish — Number One Defense for a Reason
When it comes down to brass tax, you look at who these teams are. A young team that is in the bottom half of the league in offensive rating versus a contending team that is number one in defensive rating. Despite trailing for the first 17 minutes of the second half, their true colors would come out. Minnesota’s defense held Chicago to a mindboggling 2/23 quarter. That’s five points for the quarter.
From a macro level, it’s easy to brush this aside as another easy win against a developing team. However, there was legit concern for Lynx fans. Minnesota made a number of head-scratching offensive decisions as they entered the final quarter down five points. Cecilia Zandalasini (8 p; 3/5 fg) and Courtney Williams (9 p, 4 r, 4 a) stepped up in the clutch to finally push the Lynx ahead for the first time in the second half with 3:14 left. Minnesota sealed the game by sinking 10 of their final 11 free throws after going 4/7 to start.
After the Lynx took a lead, it seemed like coach Teresa Weatherspoon’s main priority was to get Angel Reese (10 p, 16 r; 4/16 fg) her 10th straight double-double. They forced paint touches for her, as the Lynx frontcourt defense ate her up. Four of Reese’s five offensive rebounds were off her own misses and she made just one of her four putbacks. She used up the Sky’s last offensive possession by drawing a foul and going one for two from the charity stripe, just barely notching point number 10. Not very efficient basketball, I’d say.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Good teams win ugly games. There may not have been an uglier game played by the Lynx this season than what we saw today. It felt that they were the worse team for about 90% of the game, yet they were able to overcome their obstacles to squeak out a win. If the they want to continue being one of the championship favorites, then they’ll continue to have to take care of business.
Just like tonight.
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Up Next
The Lynx end their three (technically four) game road trip where it started, back on the East coast to face the number one seed New York Liberty on Tuesday, 7/2 at 6:00 PM CT. Minnesota has both of their matchups against Breanna Stewart’s squad so far, with the last one coming in the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup final. The Liberty will surely be looking for revenge.