Minnesota Lynx beat Connecticut Sun 101-89 by owning the paint and surviving a 15-three barrage

Minnesota’s first punch never really stopped landing

The game’s shape arrived early and stayed recognizable the rest of the afternoon. Minnesota scored the first four points through Napheesa Collier, pushed the margin to 11-2 on Courtney Williams’ three at 6:36 of the first quarter, and kept feeding the middle of the floor. By the time the period closed at 27-12, the Lynx had built the kind of cushion that changes every later possession. Connecticut never held a lead, and there were no lead changes all game.

That opening stretch also previewed who would matter most for Minnesota. Collier finished with 23 points on 9-of-16 shooting, Natasha Howard added 18 points and 11 rebounds on an efficient 8-of-10, and Olivia Miles supplied the connective play that kept the Sun chasing. Williams knocked down an early three and settled into her pull-up game, while Kayla McBride, even on a difficult shooting night from the field, kept the offense moving with six assists and steady trips to the line.

Connecticut did not fold after the first-quarter jolt, but it spent the afternoon trying to erase it. Gianna Kneepkens opened the second quarter with a three, and the Sun’s outside shooting gradually gave the scoreboard a different feel. Leila Lacan hit from deep twice in the period, Diamond Miller added a three, Nell Angloma joined in, and another Kneepkens make from 25 feet pulled Connecticut within 49-41 with 43.1 seconds left in the half. Minnesota’s response mattered: Collier completed a three-point play, then McBride finished one with 1.2 seconds remaining, stretching the halftime lead back to 55-43.

Connecticut’s hot hand was real, but so were Minnesota’s replies

If the Sun had a path back, it was obvious enough: keep making jumpers and hope the Lynx finally cool off inside. Connecticut did its part for long stretches. Miller hit two third-quarter threes, Kneepkens added another, Ashlon Jackson connected from 24 feet, and the deficit briefly shrank to 69-61 and later 71-64. The Sun shot 53.6 percent from three for the game, a number that usually gives a team a serious chance.

But every time the margin looked vulnerable, Minnesota found points that were simpler and harder to disrupt. Miles opened the third quarter with two driving baskets, Collier added another layup, and the Lynx kept walking the score back to a safer place. Late in the third, Miles buried a 24-foot step-back three with 46.4 seconds left, one of only four Minnesota makes from long range, and McBride followed with two free throws to send the Lynx to the fourth ahead 76-67.

The decisive sequence came after Connecticut made one more push. Raegan Beers scored at 9:44 of the fourth quarter to trim the game to 76-69, and after another Beers basket it was 78-71. Minnesota answered with a compact, punishing burst: Dorka Juhasz scored from 19 feet, Miles drove twice, Juhasz finished at the rim, and Miles added two free throws. In a little more than three minutes, the lead was back to 86-71. That stretch did not end the game on paper, but it ended the uncertainty around it.

Connecticut still produced flashes late. Charlisse Leger-Walker’s three cut it to 92-82 with 2:40 left, and Kneepkens’ free throws later made it 97-87. Yet even those moments were answered quickly, first by Howard at the rim and then by McBride from 24 feet. Minnesota’s largest lead reached 20, and the important detail is that the Sun never made the Lynx play from behind for even a possession.

Our take: when 15 made threes still are not enough

This result is a good example of why a box score has to be read all the way down. Connecticut shot better from the field than Minnesota, 52.5 percent to 50.0, and was dramatically better from three, 15-of-28 to 4-of-21. Normally that is the winning profile. It was not enough here because the Lynx won so many of the game’s other exchanges: 25-of-27 at the foul line, 50 points in the paint, 10 offensive rebounds, and only 11 total turnovers. Connecticut’s 20 total turnovers became 25 Minnesota points, and the Sun also left seven free throws unused.

For Minnesota, the encouraging part is that this was not a shooting-dependent win. Miles had 21 points and six assists, Howard controlled the glass with six offensive rebounds, and Collier’s 23 gave the Lynx a reliable scorer whenever the game threatened to tighten. That said, the three-point number should still keep their attention. Making only four threes while allowing 15 is a dangerous balance to live on repeatedly, even if this afternoon’s work inside covered it.

For Connecticut, there is no need to apologize for the perimeter shooting; 15 made threes and 22 assists are real positives. The cleaner path to improvement sits elsewhere and it is visible in the numbers. The Sun cannot spot an opponent a 27-12 first quarter, cannot turn it over 20 times, and cannot go 12-of-19 at the line if they want those hot shooting nights to count for more. Against Minnesota, the shooting gave them hope. The mistakes around it kept hope from becoming pressure.

Scoring moments

1. 1st Quarter · 9:37

   Napheesa Collier makes 16-foot jumper (Courtney Williams assists)

2. 1st Quarter · 9:12

   Napheesa Collier makes 1-foot two point shot (Natasha Howard assists)

3. 1st Quarter · 8:50

   Diamond Miller makes 1-foot layup (Saniya Rivers assists)

4. 1st Quarter · 7:59

   Courtney Williams makes 16-foot running pullup jump shot

5. 1st Quarter · 7:03

   Natasha Howard makes two point shot

6. 1st Quarter · 6:36

   Courtney Williams makes 25-foot three point jumper (Olivia Miles assists)

7. 1st Quarter · 6:16

   Leila Lacan makes 13-foot pullup jump shot

8. 1st Quarter · 5:55

   Courtney Williams makes 16-foot pullup jump shot

9. 1st Quarter · 5:22

   Aaliyah Edwards makes layup (Charlisse Leger-Walker assists)

10. 1st Quarter · 4:59

    Napheesa Collier makes layup (Olivia Miles assists)

11. 1st Quarter · 4:59

    Napheesa Collier makes free throw 1 of 1

12. 1st Quarter · 4:31

    Natasha Howard makes free throw 1 of 2

13. 1st Quarter · 4:31

    Natasha Howard makes free throw 2 of 2

14. 1st Quarter · 4:01

    Natasha Howard makes two point shot

15. 1st Quarter · 3:34

    Napheesa Collier makes driving layup (Kayla McBride assists)

16. 1st Quarter · 3:34

    Napheesa Collier makes free throw 1 of 1

17. 1st Quarter · 2:58

    Raegan Beers makes free throw 2 of 2

18. 1st Quarter · 2:46

    Kayla McBride makes free throw 1 of 2

19. 1st Quarter · 2:46

    Kayla McBride makes free throw 2 of 2

20. 1st Quarter · 2:22

    Gianna Kneepkens makes driving layup

21. 1st Quarter · 1:19

    Ashlon Jackson makes 25-foot three point jumper (Hailey Van Lith assists)

22. 1st Quarter · 24.7

    Aari McDonald makes free throw 1 of 2

23. 1st Quarter · 24.7

    Aari McDonald makes free throw 2 of 2

24. 2nd Quarter · 9:41

    Gianna Kneepkens makes 24-foot running pullup jump shot (Ashlon Jackson assists)

25. 2nd Quarter · 9:31

    Olivia Miles makes free throw 1 of 2

26. 2nd Quarter · 9:31

    Olivia Miles makes free throw 2 of 2

27. 2nd Quarter · 9:04

    Natasha Howard makes 2-foot layup (Olivia Miles assists)

28. 2nd Quarter · 8:38

    Olivia Miles makes 3-foot two point shot

29. 2nd Quarter · 8:24

    Aaliyah Edwards makes driving layup (Hailey Van Lith assists)

30. 2nd Quarter · 8:16

    Nia Brodie makes free throw 1 of 2

31. 2nd Quarter · 8:16

    Nia Brodie makes free throw 2 of 2

32. 2nd Quarter · 7:55

    Maya Caldwell makes 15-foot pullup jump shot

33. 2nd Quarter · 7:10

    Leila Lacan makes 26-foot running pullup jump shot (Charlisse Leger-Walker assists)

34. 2nd Quarter · 6:53

    Napheesa Collier makes driving layup

35. 2nd Quarter · 6:38

    Diamond Miller makes 27-foot three point jumper (Leila Lacan assists)

36. 2nd Quarter · 5:57

    Nell Angloma makes 24-foot three point jumper (Aaliyah Edwards assists)

37. 2nd Quarter · 5:34

    Natasha Howard makes two point shot

38. 2nd Quarter · 4:11

    Olivia Miles makes driving layup

39. 2nd Quarter · 3:44

    Napheesa Collier makes driving layup (Olivia Miles assists)

40. 2nd Quarter · 3:32

    Diamond Miller makes free throw 1 of 2

41. 2nd Quarter · 3:32

    Diamond Miller makes free throw 2 of 2

42. 2nd Quarter · 2:49

    Leila Lacan makes 26-foot three point jumper (Nell Angloma assists)

43. 2nd Quarter · 2:39

    Olivia Miles makes free throw 1 of 2

44. 2nd Quarter · 2:39

    Olivia Miles makes free throw 2 of 2

45. 2nd Quarter · 2:19

    Leila Lacan makes 12-foot pullup jump shot

46. 2nd Quarter · 1:50

    Leila Lacan makes 24-foot running jump shot (Charlisse Leger-Walker assists)

47. 2nd Quarter · 1:27

    Napheesa Collier makes 13-foot jumper (Nia Brodie assists)

48. 2nd Quarter · 1:02

    Charlisse Leger-Walker makes free throw 1 of 2

49. 2nd Quarter · 1:02

    Charlisse Leger-Walker makes free throw 2 of 2

50. 2nd Quarter · 43.1

    Gianna Kneepkens makes 25-foot running jump shot (Charlisse Leger-Walker assists)

51. 2nd Quarter · 25.2

    Napheesa Collier makes driving layup (Kayla McBride assists)

52. 2nd Quarter · 25.2

    Napheesa Collier makes free throw 1 of 1

53. 2nd Quarter · 6.3

    Charlisse Leger-Walker makes driving layup

54. 2nd Quarter · 1.2

    Kayla McBride makes driving layup (Olivia Miles assists)

55. 2nd Quarter · 1.2

    Kayla McBride makes free throw 1 of 1

56. 3rd Quarter · 9:28

    Olivia Miles makes driving layup

57. 3rd Quarter · 9:02

    Napheesa Collier makes driving layup (Kayla McBride assists)

58. 3rd Quarter · 8:32

    Olivia Miles makes driving layup

59. 3rd Quarter · 8:07

    Diamond Miller makes 26-foot three pointer (Charlisse Leger-Walker assists)

60. 3rd Quarter · 7:44

    Kayla McBride makes technical free throw

61. 3rd Quarter · 7:27

    Diamond Miller makes 23-foot three point jumper (Leila Lacan assists)

62. 3rd Quarter · 7:01

    Courtney Williams makes free throw 1 of 2

63. 3rd Quarter · 7:01

    Courtney Williams makes free throw 2 of 2

64. 3rd Quarter · 6:46

    Aaliyah Edwards makes free throw 1 of 2

65. 3rd Quarter · 6:46

    Aaliyah Edwards makes free throw 2 of 2

66. 3rd Quarter · 6:23

    Diamond Miller makes two point shot (Aaliyah Edwards assists)

67. 3rd Quarter · 6:08

    Natasha Howard makes two point shot

68. 3rd Quarter · 5:56

    Gianna Kneepkens makes 24-foot three point jumper (Leila Lacan assists)

69. 3rd Quarter · 5:38

    Kayla McBride makes 25-foot three point jumper (Maya Caldwell assists)

70. 3rd Quarter · 3:30

    Aaliyah Edwards makes driving layup

71. 3rd Quarter · 3:02

    Raegan Beers makes two point shot

72. 3rd Quarter · 3:02

    Raegan Beers makes free throw 1 of 1

73. 3rd Quarter · 2:47

    Napheesa Collier makes free throw 1 of 2

74. 3rd Quarter · 2:47

    Napheesa Collier makes free throw 2 of 2

75. 3rd Quarter · 2:28

    Ashlon Jackson makes 24-foot three point jumper (Raegan Beers assists)

76. 3rd Quarter · 46.4

    Olivia Miles makes 24-foot three point step back jumpshot (Kayla McBride assists)

77. 3rd Quarter · 25.8

    Raegan Beers makes 2-foot layup (Charlisse Leger-Walker assists)

78. 3rd Quarter · 25.8

    Raegan Beers makes free throw 1 of 1

79. 3rd Quarter · 11.3

    Kayla McBride makes free throw 1 of 2

80. 3rd Quarter · 11.3

    Kayla McBride makes free throw 2 of 2

81. 4th Quarter · 9:44

    Raegan Beers makes layup (Charlisse Leger-Walker assists)

82. 4th Quarter · 9:23

    Dorka Juhasz makes 19-foot pullup jump shot (Napheesa Collier assists)

83. 4th Quarter · 8:13

    Raegan Beers makes driving layup (Charlisse Leger-Walker assists)

84. 4th Quarter · 8:02

    Olivia Miles makes driving layup

85. 4th Quarter · 7:34

    Dorka Juhasz makes 1-foot layup (Courtney Williams assists)

86. 4th Quarter · 7:05

    Olivia Miles makes driving layup

87. 4th Quarter · 6:19

    Olivia Miles makes free throw 1 of 2

88. 4th Quarter · 6:19

    Olivia Miles makes free throw 2 of 2

89. 4th Quarter · 6:05

    Aaliyah Edwards makes 23-foot three point jumper (Leila Lacan assists)

90. 4th Quarter · 5:47

    Courtney Williams makes 18-foot pullup jump shot (Natasha Howard assists)

91. 4th Quarter · 5:16

    Natasha Howard makes layup (Courtney Williams assists)

92. 4th Quarter · 5:01

    Leila Lacan makes driving layup

93. 4th Quarter · 4:20

    Aaliyah Edwards makes free throw 2 of 2

94. 4th Quarter · 3:53

    Gianna Kneepkens makes running layup

95. 4th Quarter · 3:13

    Natasha Howard makes running layup (Kayla McBride assists)

96. 4th Quarter · 2:40

    Charlisse Leger-Walker makes 26-foot three point jumper (Gianna Kneepkens assists)

97. 4th Quarter · 2:00

    Natasha Howard makes 3-foot layup (Kayla McBride assists)

98. 4th Quarter · 1:39

    Kayla McBride makes 24-foot three point jumper (Olivia Miles assists)

99. 4th Quarter · 1:32

    Charlisse Leger-Walker makes 24-foot three point jumper (Diamond Miller assists)

100. 4th Quarter · 1:11

     Gianna Kneepkens makes free throw 1 of 2

101. 4th Quarter · 1:11

     Gianna Kneepkens makes free throw 2 of 2

102. 4th Quarter · 56.8

     Liatu King makes 12-foot pullup jump shot

103. 4th Quarter · 30.0

     Aari McDonald makes driving layup

104. 4th Quarter · 17.2

     Hailey Van Lith makes 6-foot fade away jump shot