Napheesa Collier simply took over Wednesday.
The Lynx forward scored a career-high 42 points and tied an WNBA-record for most points in a playoff game as Minnesota pulled away to beat Phoenix 101-88 and sweep the best-of-three first-round series.
Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier celebrates her three-point basket against the Phoenix Mercury in the fourth quarter of Game 2 of a WNBA basketball first-round playoff game Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)
Combined with a 38-point scoring performance in Game 1, Collier is the first player in franchise history to have back-to-back games of at least 30 points in a single playoff. Her 80 points in the two games are the most points over any two-game stretch in WNBA Playoff history.
Second-seeded Minnesota will face No. 3 Connecticut in a best-of-five semifinal beginning at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Target Center, where the Lynx are 18-4 this season.
The Sun won two of three meetings against the Lynx, although Minnesota won 78-76 last week in Connecticut.
“We want to win every single game at Target Center in front of you guys,” Lynx forward Bridget Carleton said during a postgame in-arena interview. “We’re a good basketball team and we’re here to win a championship.”
Collier, second in the league’s MVP voting, scored 23 points in the first half and then dominated at both ends of the court in the latter stages of the game.
She scored on a drive early in the fourth quarter for a 79-66 lead. Five straight points by Collier, the final two coming after she stole a pass on defense and scored off a feed from Natisha Hiedeman, pushed the lead to 91-73 midway through the fourth. A Collier trey with 4:08 to play gave her 41 points and a free throw gave her 42 less than a minute later.
Angel McCoughtry in 2010 and Breanna Stewart in 2022 also have the WNBA record of 42 points in a playoff game.
Minnesota shot 50.7%, had assists on 28 of 34 baskets and made 23 of 27 free throws.
The game’s momentum may have turned on a physical play early in the third quarter.
Making a steal and driving to the hoop on a fast break, Carleton landed nearly face first with a thud after she was basically tackled on a flagrant foul by Sophie Cunningham.
Courtney Williams and Collier quickly rushed to their fallen teammate, with Williams assessed a technical foul as players from both sides were jawing at one another.
Up by two after Carleton’s crash, the Lynx went on a 17-7 run, including 3-pointers from Alanna Smith and Kayla McBride, for a 72-60 lead late in the quarter.
McBride finished with 15 points, Carleton and Smith each had a dozen and Williams scored 11 and added six assists.
Diana Taurasi finished with 10 points for the Mercury in what could be the final game of an illustrious 20-year career. She left to a standing ovation with 2:34 to play after picking up her fifth foul.
Brittney Griner scored 24 points to lead five Phoenix players in double figures.
Related Articles
Lynx offensive success runs off Napheesa Collier and the power of spacing
Lynx dominate early, rally to beat Phoenix in playoff opener
Lynx credit chemistry with return to WNBA championship contention
Lynx rest Collier, McBride in season finale and lost 68-51 to last-place Sparks
Carleton’s mega three wins No. 2 playoff seed for Lynx
Leave a Reply