Minnesota Lynx 101 vs. Atlanta Dream 95 – WNBA Finals Game-2 Second Half Analysis
Third Quarter
Leading by eight points, 58-50, at halftime, Atlanta Dream came out flat in the third quarter and missed some easy opportunities to extend their lead.
However, the Defending Champions still managed to hold a 61-54 lead with 06:46 to go in the third quarter. Minnesota Lynx took full advantage of Atlanta’s cold shooting and worked their deficit down to as low as three points, 61-58,
on the back of Taj McWilliams-Franklin’s four consecutive free throws.
With 02:31 to go in the third period, Atlanta were holding on to a 67-62 lead. Minnesota’s Lindsay Whalen scored a lay-up at that point to make it a three-point contest, 67-64, however Angel McCoughtry took charge initiated a six
point unanswered run with four straight points to widen Atlanta’s lead to double figures, 73-64.
Minnesota responded with a 5-1 spell and trimmed their deficit to five, heading into the last period.
Fourth Quarter
Lynx were singing to a different tune in the fourth quarter. Keyed by Seimone Augustus and Lindsay Whalen, they exploded in the frame early and tied the game at 74. De Souza hit a turnaround jumper to put Atlanta ahead again, but
the Lynx had settled into their groove and put together a 7-2 burst to carry an 81-78 lead with 06:22 to go in the fourth quarter.
The Dream did bounce back though and eventually rebuilt a four-point lead, 85-81, with Lyttle and McCoughtry orchestrating seven consecutive points.
What followed was display of offensive artistry by Minnesota, which reeled off a 16-2 blowout spurt to turn the game on its head. Atlanta did not get any closer than six points for rest of the period and Minnesota won their second
consecutive game of the WNBA best-of-five final series.
Atlanta’s forward McCoughtry topped all scorers with 38 points on a 10 for 22 shooting from the field and 16 for 21 from free throw line. Augustus led the Lynx with 36 points and eight rebounds.
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