“Desperate” Sun tops Lynx to force Game 5 behind strong team defense and balanced offense

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – The cheers seemingly rained down as often for defensive stops as for made baskets. The Connecticut Sun would expect nothing less.

Their 92-82 Game 4 victory over the Minnesota Lynx began with forward DeWanna Bonner forcing a steal on the Sun's first defensive possession. There were cries about fouls from Alyssa Thomas, deflections from DiJonai Carrington and even timely threes from Marina Mabrey and Ty Harris. There were more of them than the entire series. Harris finished her return to the starting lineup with a team and career playoff-high 20 points.

Sunday's win may not have been an offensive clinic by any means. But at this point in the season, Sun coach Stephanie White will trade aesthetics for wins.

“Obviously there is a sense of urgency,” she said. “You have to play like you’re desperate.”

For a while, however, it looked as if Connecticut's season might end in the semifinals again. The Sun trailed by nine after the first quarter and trailed by seven at halftime. Minnesota star Napheesa Collier scored in a variety of ways – with 3-pointers, from midfield and with a baseline spin blowby past Thomas on one particular possession.

Collier entered Game 4 this postseason averaging 26.8 points and 8.6 rebounds. Yet she thrived again, finishing the game with 29 points and 13 rebounds. But the sun thwarted those around them. Two other players scored in double figures for Minnesota, but Collier's fellow All-Star Kayla McBride scored just five points on 2-of-6 shooting.

“We've been so close so many times, I think that's the biggest motivation for me,” Sun All-Star center Brionna Jones said.

The Sun have taken part in this round six times in a row, but have only two finals appearances without a title. Minnesota, on the other hand, is looking for its first finals berth since 2017.

Game 4 on Sunday looked different than it did at the start, with Harris reinserted into the starting lineup. An ankle injury in the first round caused her to miss the end of Connecticut's series against Indiana and played a more limited role at the start of that series against Minnesota. She provided the decisive spark with seven of her eleven shots. After a 3-pointer with 5:48 left in the game that extended the Sun's lead to 10, she bent over and stuck out her tongue as she skipped across the floor back into her defensive stance.

Fittingly, Connecticut forced a turnover on the ensuing possession, one of Minnesota's 13 gains on the night.

The Sun allowed the Lynx to make just four field goals in the third quarter. And when Connecticut's lead expanded to 15 with 2:51 to play, Minnesota had only scored three points in the game.

When the final buzzer sounded, the Sun players cheered in a relatively muted manner. They exchanged high-fives with each other, tossed a few souvenirs to fans and then walked away.

Game 5 is scheduled for Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET. The winner of Tuesday's game will face the New York Liberty in Game 1 of the 2024 WNBA Finals, which begins Thursday.

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(Photo: Chris Marion / NBAE via Getty Images)