Sparks at Lynx
7:00 pm CDT
ESPN2
And it all comes down to this. For the second year in a row, the Lynx will host a deciding game five in the NBA Finals at Target Center. Last season, they ousted the Indiana Fever, and tonight they will look to repeat as champions against the Los Angeles Sparks.
It’s been a terrific series, back and forth, each team taking turns looking dominant. In L.A., the Sparks put on a stifling and aggressive performance in game three to put the Lynx on the brink, but the Lynx came back to win a tight game four behind the heroics of Maya Moore.
They will need more of that to win tonight, as the Sparks defense led by Alana Beard has really disrupted the Lynx on the perimeter. They will also need a big game from Sylvia Fowles, particularly on the defensive end protecting the paint against the forays of current and former MVPs Nneka Ogwumike and Candace Parker.
Defense and rebounding have been Lynx signatures all season, and they will need to perform in both areas. Some timely perimeter shooting would also not go amiss against a team fully capable of catching fire from beyond the arc.
Target Center will be loud and energized, and I expect both teams to bring their best games. While the current Lynx have already cemented their legacy, a repeat title would be a true exclamation point on their excellence. It should be a great game.
Expected lineups
Sparks
Alana Beard
Kristi Toliver
Essence Carson
Candace Parker
Nneka Ogwumike
Lynx
Lindsay Whalen
Seimone Augustus
Maya Moore
Rebekkah Brunson
Sylvia Fowles
Enjoy the game. Chat here. Go Lynx.