Mercury take Game 2 in overtime against the Lynx

The Mercury got off to a slow start, scoring just 19 points in the first quarter and 13 in the second. The Lynx built their largest lead of the game in the third quarter, going up by 20 points. However, Phoenix responded with more aggressive play and held Minnesota to 14 points in the third.

Phoenix pushed forward in the fourth quarter, tying the game with 3.4 seconds left on a 3-pointer by Sami Whitcomb. The game went into overtime, where the Mercury scored 10 points and held the Lynx to four to secure an 89-83 win and even the series.

“Pride and toughness,” Phoenix head coach Nate Tibetts said when asked what helped the team make the comeback. “Grit. I couldn’t be more proud of our group for doing that. I believe this is our fourth game in seven nights, so I was a little worried going into the game, but boy, they really responded in the second half. We just kept fighting.”

The Mercury tied the third-largest comeback in WNBA playoff history and the team’s first-ever postseason win against the Lynx. Phoenix previously lost ten straight games in the playoffs to Minnesota.

“I think we just played harder to be honest,” Tibbetts said. “I mean, that’s how we guarded in the first round. We’ve talked about it, but I think we are gassed… but we battled through it.”

The semifinals head to Phoenix as the Mercury and the Lynx play Game 3 on Friday, Sept. 26, at 6:30 p.m.