The Lynx prevailed despite periods of uninspiring ball coupled with dominant stretches by the Liberty. They head for the final game of the WNBA season with an edge, one the Liberty should be worried about. Because the Lynx won a game in which Collier scored only two points the entire second half.
If the Lynx can win a game like that, they certainly can win Sunday in Brooklyn and bring home their fifth title. They won Game 1 there, won twice there during the regular season and also beat the Liberty in New York for the Commissioner’s Cup title.
“Last 40 minutes of the season,” McBride said. “It could be anywhere. Really, it doesn’t matter. It’s like we’re going to be out there together and going to war. I’m pumped.”
The Lynx traditionally celebrate wins with a group electric slide on one end of the Target Center floor. On Friday, that slide looked more like a shuffle after it took everything they had to hold off New York.
They led 46-45 at halftime but couldn’t build a lead in the third quarter. Breanna Stewart and the Liberty were all over Collier, doubling her when she got the ball in the post, fighting through pick-and-rolls, denying her the ball. That textbook fadeaway jumper of hers did not exist for most of the night as she went 4-for-10 from the field. She even missed half of her free throws, going 2-for-4.
Others filled the gap. Enter Smith and her balky back with the Lynx down 61-55. She cut to the basket for a layup, stole the ball and grabbed a rebound during one sequence. After Collier made a free throw, Smith buried a three-pointer to tie the score.
