The Phoenix Mercury have a 2-1 lead over the Minnesota Lynx, and it didn’t even take a 20-point comeback this time.
In front of a raucous PHX Arena crowd, the Mercury won Game 3 84-76 on Friday to take over a series that was previously slipping through their hands after seven quarters. In a game with 15 lead changes, no team ever led by double digits.
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The Mercury’s physicality ultimately proved the difference, outrebounding Minnesota 37-29. Alyssa Thomas, Satou Sabally and Kahleah Copper all topped 20 points, with Thomas also posting 9 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 steals and 2 blocks.
Sabally was the one who came up most clutch, posting 15 of her points in the fourth quarter as Phoenix finally pulled away.
Game 4 is scheduled for Sunday evening in Phoenix.
A disastrous ending for the Lynx
Blowing that lead in Game 2 was bad for Minnesota. Game 3’s ending might have been worse.
The dagger effectively came with less than 30 seconds left, when Thomas got a steal on Napheesa Collier and made a breakaway layup to put the Mercury up six points. The contact on the steal sent Collier reeling, which infuriated Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve so much that she walked on the court to berate the officials before her team could inbound the ball.
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As Collier stayed on the floor in clear pain, Reeve had to be held back by multiple coaches and players. She received an ejection, while Collier was helped off the court with a noticeable limp. Replay showed Collier’s knee making contract with Thomas and her ankle rolling.
Reeve said in her postgame press conference that Collier might have a fracture. The owners of the best record in the WNBA are now a loss away from elimination and will need to survive another game in Phoenix just to force a winner-take-all game at home.