Connecticut Sun fend off Minnesota Lynx down stretch of Game 1 behind Alyssa Thomas
Alyssa Thomas scored 17 points and flirted with a triple-double as the Connecticut Sun won Game 1 of a WNBA semifinal series, beating the Minnesota Lynx, 73-70, in Minneapolis on Sunday night.
Thomas made the Sun's final two shots with under a minute to play and went 8-for-12 from the floor in addition to piling up 10 rebounds and nine assists. Connecticut also got 20 points from Marina Mabrey and 10 points and 11 boards from DeWanna Bonner.
The Sun held the Lynx to just eight points in the fourth quarter.
"For us, it really came down to getting stops," Thomas said. "I'm one of the leaders of this team. I've been here my whole career. Nothing changes. We're in the pursuit of a championship."
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Napheesa Collier had 19 points, nine rebounds and four assists for Minnesota, while Bridget Carleton added 17 points.
The Sun took a three-point lead, 71-68, with 53.8 seconds remaining when Thomas hit Alanna Smith with a crossover and drove to the basket from the left wing to connect on a layup. Smith had five blocks on the night but couldn't catch up with Thomas as she sank a crucial bucket.
Collier responded on the Lynx's next possession, slipping a screen, catching a pass from Smith and connecting on a wide-open finger roll. But again, Thomas had an answer, sinking a 15-foot jumper to push the lead back to three points with 12.3 seconds left.
"We really didn't have a play. I liked the matchup I had on me. When I saw the opening, I took the shot," Thomas said.
Out of a timeout, Minnesota was forced to settle for a long-range 3-point attempt from Collier on the left wing with Bonner draped over her. The shot clanked off the back iron and the buzzer sounded.
"We respect the hell out of her. We had to scheme for her," Mabrey said of Collier.
Minnesota actually led by five points at the end of the third quarter after ending the frame on an 11-3 run that was capped off by a 3-pointer from Courtney Williams.
Both teams had 13 turnovers, but the Sun scored 16 points off the Lynx's mistakes while Minnesota only mustered eight points off Connecticut's miscues.
Before the game, Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve was presented with the WNBA Coach of the Year award, her fourth, and Collier was awarded the Defensive Player of the Year trophy.
Bonner appeared in her 83rd playoff game, making her the WNBA's all-time leader in postseason games played.
Game 2 is set for Tuesday in Minneapolis.