Minnesota Lynx defeat Connecticut Sun, even series 1-1

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Courtney Williams scored 17 points and Alanna Smith had 15 points to help the Minnesota Lynx overturn a bad night for star Napheesa Collier and beat the Connecticut Sun 77-70 to clinch the best-of-five semifinal series the WNBA at one game apiece on Tuesday.

Collier, who scored 80 points in a two-game win over Phoenix in the first round, was held to nine points on 3-for-14 shooting. She led the Lynx with 12 rebounds and five assists and was pleased with her supporting squad leading the attack past a feisty opponent.

Alyssa Thomas had 18 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists for the Sun, which shot just 5-for-20 from 3-point range. DeWanna Bonner scored 17 points and Marina Mabrey added 15 points on 4-for-14 shooting after going 7 for 19 and 20 points in the opener.

Connecticut will host Game 3 on Friday and Game 4 on Sunday. Then Game 5, if necessary, would take place on October 8th in Minnesota.

The Lynx never lost consecutive home games this season, compiling a 30-10 record for the No. 2 seed in the playoffs, and their 73-70 loss in Game 1 clearly sparked a fierce follow-up in what has been a persistently physical matchup At times it looked more like football than basketball.