Lynx maintain off Liberty in an intense WNBA Finals Sport 4, forcing winner-take-all Sport 5: Reside updates and reactions
MINNEAPOLIS — The primary three video games of the 2024 WNBA Finals threatened to show into laughers in the beginning, with one crew racing out to a double-digit lead.
On Friday, with the finals trophy within the constructing and the prospect of elimination within the air, the sport’s tenor was far much less one-sided. Neither the Minnesota Lynx nor the New York Liberty led by greater than six factors, and there have been 14 lead modifications and 13 ties.
And after watching New York make each huge play down the stretch on its house court docket Wednesday, Minnesota was the better-executing crew in Sport 4, tying the collection 2-2 and forcing a decisive Sport 5 in Brooklyn on Sunday with an 82-80 victory.
On the Lynx’s remaining offensive possession, Bridget Carleton secured an offensive rebound on an errant Courtney Williams jumper and was fouled on the play. She sank each free throws to place Minnesota up two and safe the win.
Bridget Carleton will get fouled on the put again and sinks each free throws to safe the Sport 4 WIN for Minnesota 🚨#WNBAFinals offered by @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/kXgWlpEu2Z
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 19, 2024
Carleton, who Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve referred to as a “hustle-play participant” completed with 12 factors, scoring 5 within the final 3:30 of the competition. Kayla McBride led the Lynx with 19 factors, however Minnesota’s balanced scoring assault helped the crew emerge victorious.
Liberty coach Sandy Brondello referred to as this the highest-level WNBA Finals collection in league historical past for the standard of play, and each groups rose to fulfill the bar. New York and Minnesota made clutch shot after clutch shot, with the Lynx finally having the ultimate reply.
Friday’s Sport 4 had a special really feel than the three prior finals video games as neither crew may draw back from the opposite. The competition was tied after the primary quarter and the Lynx solely led by some extent after the second and third quarters. Reeve stated at this level within the collection, there are “no secrets and techniques.”
As an alternative, basket after basket appeared like a grind, and the slightest of margins (on the free throw line, in second-chance factors and through factors off turnovers) have been the distinction. Each groups completed the competition capturing the identical share from 3-point vary (39.1 p.c).
Liberty star Breanna Stewart struggled, lacking her first eight shot makes an attempt, tying essentially the most consecutive misses she has ever needed to begin a recreation. And although Jonquel Jones added 21 factors and eight rebounds, it turned out for naught.
“Minnesota did what they wanted to do right here to tie it up, and now we return house,” Brondello stated.
Sport 5 is about for Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.
Carleton makes well timed performs; Lynx position gamers step up
Carleton’s two free throws would be the distinction within the scoreline, however she made well timed performs on each ends within the lead-up to her remaining two factors. She went to the free-throw line after grabbing an offensive rebound. Carleton’s 3-pointer with 3:14 remaining stretched Minnesota’s result in 5 factors, tying its largest lead of the evening.
Reeve relied on reserve middle Dorka Juhász for the primary time this collection, whereas reserve wing Cecilia Zandalasini additionally noticed the court docket for 16 minutes, tying her a lot of the postseason. — Ben Pickman, WNBA employees author
Cecilia Zandalasini spins via the lane, capping off an 11-2 run for the Lynx 🔥#WNBAFinals offered by @YouTubeTV pic.twitter.com/IyoUZe9QPy
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 19, 2024
Stewart struggles in Liberty’s loss
Solely 48 hours faraway from scoring a game-high 30 factors, Stewart struggled in Sport 4. Her first 3-pointer rolled out and in and a few of Stewart’s struggles resulted from wonderful protection from Collier, whose size and athleticism pissed off Stewart. Stewart stated afterward she was dashing at occasions.
Foul bother additionally didn’t assist her get right into a rhythm as she picked up her fourth foul with 3:15 to go within the third quarter and was compelled to the bench. Stewart completed with an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double, however she’s going to rue the missed alternatives, together with a contested layup with 30 seconds left and a missed 9-foot jumper with 18.9 seconds to play. — Pickman
Particulars made the distinction in shut recreation
Along with the double-digit lead modifications, Friday’s contest marked the closest recreation of the collection. The Liberty had 16 turnovers that led to 19 factors for the Lynx, whereas Minnesota had 13 turnovers that led to 10 New York factors. Although the Lynx missed 5 free throws, they tried 11 extra photographs on the free throw line — a lot to Brondello’s dismay — and made six extra free throws.
The important thing to Minnesota’s victory was the way it closed quarters. The Lynx struggled mightily in that space in Sport 3, however the two groups couldn’t draw back from one another throughout any of Friday’s 4 quarters. — Pickman
Required studying
(Photograph: Matt Krohn / Imagn Pictures)
