Before Game 5, a reporter asked Cheryl Reeve about the Lynx’s defense, which had allowed 173 points over the past two games in Connecticut and was not playing up to its standards. Reeve interrupted the question.
“It will be tonight,” she said with a half smile.
The Lynx closed out the Sun, winning Game 5 88-77. Led mostly by their defense, Minnesota held the Sun to only 48 points through the first three quarters, allowing the Lynx to enter the fourth with what ended up being an insurmountable 19-point advantage.
Although the Sun scored 29 in the fourth quarter, it came mostly as Minnesota ran down the clock. By taking Game 5, the Lynx secured their seventh trip to the finals in franchise history.
“I damn near guaranteed you,” Reeve said, “that we would play the defense that we played.”
Minnesota’s defensive shift was evident from the beginning of the game, as the Lynx forced three turnovers in the first quarter and committed no fouls. Courtney Williams spearheaded the effort, registering the Lynx’s only steal in the first.
Notably, her off-ball defensive help set the tone. She flew around the court to assist with double teams and swiped at the ball nearly every drive. The defense also thrived on Alanna Smith‘s lack of fouling because she could play over nine minutes in the first quarter.
Her ability to stay on the court was largely responsible for Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner shooting just 2 of 6 from the floor as the Lynx blew open a 31-18 first-quarter advantage.
The second quarter was much of the same. The Lynx defense forced six more turnovers and held the Sun to shooting only 4-13 from the field for the quarter. Minnesota’s defense was astounding again. Its rotations were near flawless, doubling on Thomas inside and then rotating back perfectly to defend the shooters. The Lynx’s lack of mistakes offensively prevented the Sun from getting into transition and never getting any easy baskets to build a rhythm.
That carried through halftime and into the third. The Lynx held the Sun to only 3 of 16 from the field and didn’t allow a single three-point basket. Minnesota’s defense remained impeccable; Bonner and Thomas went 0 of 6 in the quarter. That allowed the Lynx to build a lead big enough to coast into the third quarter.
With the Lynx turning their attention to the New York Liberty in the Finals, their defense must remain elite. Minnesota has a 3-1 season advantage over New York, but the Liberty had the top-ranked offense during the regular season and has maintained its efficiency throughout the playoffs.
Game 1 of the finals is Thursday night. The Lynx will have to refocus their defense to stop former MVP Breanna Stewart, who’s averaging 24.75 points against the Lynx this season.
The Liberty will come into the series as heavy favorites at –275 to win the series, meaning you would have to bet 295 dollars to win 10. However, that has been the narrative the Lynx have faced all season.
“I’m not sure that anybody at any point in the season was like, they have a real shot at winning the championship, other than people who are in our corner,” she said. “We’re going to have to continue to make believers… we just keep stepping.”
The Lynx may not be favorites, but if their defense shows up in New York like it did in Game 5, it will be nearly impossible for them to lose the game. They are a team built on defensive intensity. If they can maintain it for one more series, the Lynx will raise a fifth championship banner into the rafters.
