Playoff Game #2, Home Playoff Game #2 Tonight’s Matchup
Minnesota enters tonight’s Semifinal Game 2 with a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series after defeating the Mercury 113-95 in Game 1. The Lynx hold an 8-2 playoff record against Phoenix.
The Mercury (2007, 2009, 2014) and Lynx (2011, 2013, 2015) have combined to win six of the last nine WNBA titles.
Lynx Notes (1-0)
Wednesday’s 113-95 win over Phoenix marks the sixth consecutive postseason the Lynx have opened with a victory, dating to the 66-65 win over San Antonio on Sept. 16, 2011. Minnesota improved to 31-14 (.689) overall and 22-3 (.890) at home in the WNBA Playoffs; both percentages are the best for any team in league postseason history.
Minnesota finished 63.9% (46-for-72) from the field, shattering its previous playoff-high of 56.9% (33-for-58) set vs. Atlanta in Game 2 of the 2013 WNBA Finals. The percentage equals the second-best ever in a WNBA playoff game, trailing only New York’s 66.0% (35-for-53) vs. Washington on Aug. 24, 2002.
The Lynx 113 points was a franchise postseason record, eclipsing the 103 mark they set at Phoenix on Sept. 25, 2011, and the most by any team in a regulation WNBA playoff game. The only higher totals came in Mercury’s 120-116 overtime win vs. Indiana in Game 1 of the 2009 Finals.
Seimone Augustus dealt a game-high-tying seven assists, part of the Lynx’ franchise playoff record of 30 and tying her career postseason best. Minnesota’s previous single-game playoff high was 27 assists set against San Antonio on Aug. 21, 2014. Last night marked the third time in WNBA Playoff history that a team has dealt 30+ assists. Phoenix holds the record with 22 set vs. San Antonio on Aug. 26, 2010.
Maya Moore tallied a game-high 31 points, her fourth 30+ point effort in the postseason and third against Phoenix (32 points Aug. 31, 2014 & 31 points Sept. 28, 2016).
Named Defensive Player of the Year by the WNBA earlier today, Sylvia Fowles collected 16 points and a game-high 10 rebounds, marking her fifth playoff double-double in a Lynx uniform and 11th overall.
After grabbing six rebounds Wednesday night, Rebekkah Brunson needs just three to pass Lisa Leslie (471) for second place on the league’s career playoff rebounding leaderboard.
The Lynx piled up at 38-20 board advantage over Phoenix in Game 1, equaling the largest margin ever in a playoff game. Minnesota outrebounded Atlanta 40-22 in Game 2 of the 2013 WNBA Finals. Additionally, the Lynx outscored Phoenix 52-44 in the paint on Wednesday, its third playoff outing with 50+ points in that category (Lynx tallied 52 paint points in the Game
1 win over Atlanta in the 2011 Finals (Oct. 2) and 54 at San Antonio on Aug. 23, 2014).
2016 WNBA Coach of the Year Cheryl Reeve won her 30th game in 40 postseason contests Wednesday, tying her with Bill Laimbeer (30-20) for the most playoff wins ever by a WNBA head coach.
Mercury Notes (0-1)
The Phoenix Mercury have an all-time postseason record of 34-24 (.586). The Mercury is one of five teams in WNBA history with 30 or more playoff wins and one-of-four teams in WNBA history with three or more championships (Houston, 4; Tulsa/Detroit, 3; Minnesota, 3).
Diana Taurasi scored a team-high 23 points in Game 1, knocking down four of her seven three-point attempts. She leads the league in playoff three-pointer made (123).
Marta Xargay has started all three playoff games for Phoenix. She posted playoff career highs in points (10) and assists (4) in Wednesday’s contest. Last season she appeared in all four of the Mercury’s playoff games, averaging six points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.
