Sabrina Ionescu scored 24 factors and the New York Liberty beat the Las Vegas Aces 88-84 on Tuesday night time to take a 2-0 lead within the best-of-five semi-final sequence.
Sport 3 is Friday night time in Las Vegas, with the two-time defending champion Aces attempting to keep away from being knocked out by the workforce they beat within the WNBA finals final 12 months. No workforce has rallied from a 2-0 deficit to win a best-of-five playoff sequence in WNBA postseason historical past. Solely Phoenix have been capable of power a Sport 5 in 2018 in opposition to Seattle.
“I like being within the historical past books, so may as properly attempt to begin there,” Aces guard Chelsea Grey stated. “That’s going to be our mentality.”
The sport was tied at 81-81 earlier than Ionescu hit a jumper with 1:15 left to present New York a two-point lead. Each groups had possibilities earlier than Ionescu fouled Tiffany Hayes with 16.9 seconds remaining off of a bounce ball.
Hayes hit the primary of two free throws to make it a one-point sport. New York secured the rebound and Ionescu was fouled with 11.6 seconds left and in addition solely hit one free throw to make it 84-82.
Las Vegas had an opportunity to tie the sport, however the ball went out of bounds on the sideline with 10.5 to play and after New York challenged the decision, the officers overturned the choice and gave the Liberty the ball.
Minnesota Lynx 77-70 Connecticut Solar
Courtney Williams scored 17 factors and Alanna Smith had 15 factors to assist Minnesota offset an off night time for star Napheesa Collier and beat Connecticut to even their semi-final sequence at one sport apiece.
Collier, who scored 80 factors within the two-game sweep of Phoenix within the first spherical, was held to 9 factors on 3-for-14 taking pictures. She led the Lynx with 12 rebounds and 5 assists, and was content material to let her supporting solid lead the cost previous a feisty opponent.
“The primary sport they have been chirping and chatting, so we needed to give it again to them,” Williams stated after the sport. “Playoff basketball, man.”
Alyssa Thomas had 18 factors, 10 rebounds and 7 assists for the Solar, who shot simply 5 for 20 from three-point vary. DeWanna Bonner scored 17 factors and Marina Mabrey added 15 factors on 4-for-14 taking pictures after she went 7 for 19 for 20 factors within the opener.
Connecticut will host Sport 3 on Friday and Sport 4 on Sunday. Sport 5, if essential, can be in Minnesota on 8 October.
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