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Napheesa Collier scores 38 as Lynx fend off Mercury 102-95 in playoff opener
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Napheesa Collier scored a playoff career-high 38 points and the Minnesota Lynx blew a 23-point lead before rallying late to beat the Phoenix Mercury 102-95 on Sunday in Game 1 of a best-of-three series.
Minnesota, the Western Conference champions and No. 2 seed, turned a 32-19 first-quarter lead into a 50-27 advantage with 5:35 left before halftime. Phoenix whittled nine points off its deficit, trailing 56-42 at intermission, and closed within 77-69 heading to the fourth quarter.
Kahleah Copper scored five points in a 10-2 run and her 3-pointer followed by two free throws by Brittney Griner gave seventh-seeded Phoenix its first lead since scoring the first four points of the game. Natasha Cloud's layup put the Mercury on top 92-91 with 2:06 left to play, but Myisha Hines-Allen answered with a layup and Bridget Carleton hit a 3-pointer in a 9-0 spurt to pull out the victory.
Collier sank 11 of 19 shots from the floor with three 3-pointers and 13 of 14 free throws for Minnesota. She added six rebounds and four assists. Kayla McBride hit three 3-pointers and all seven of her foul shots, scoring 20. Carleton had 12 points, six boards and four assists, and Hines-Allen added 10 points, five rebounds and three assists off the bench.
Cloud had 33 points, matching her postseason high, and 10 assists to lead Phoenix. Diana Taurasi made half of her 10 3-point attempts and scored 21. Copper added 16 points, and Griner finished with 10 points and six rebounds.
Collier finished four points shy of Breanna Stewart's playoff-record 42-point effort. Stewart scored 42 points while playing for the Seattle Storm in a 97-92 loss to the Las Vegas Aces in Game 4 of a Western Conference semifinal in 2022.
Minnesota won three of four games - all by double digits - against Phoenix during the regular season. The Mercury beat the visiting Lynx 81-80 for their lone victory.
The Lynx will host Game 2 at the Target Center on Wednesday. Phoenix would host Game 3 on Friday, if necessary.
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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball
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This story has been corrected to show Game 3, if necessary, would be Friday, not Thursday.
Copyright 2024 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00 |  | Start of the 1st Quarter | ||
| 10:00 | | Jump Ball: Brittney Griner vs. Napheesa Collier. | ||
| 9:43 |  | +2 | Brittney Griner makes a jump shot from 9 feet out. Diana Taurasi with the assist. | 2-0 |
| 9:23 | | Sophie Cunningham steals the ball from Courtney Williams. | ||
| 9:14 | | +2 | Kahleah Copper makes a layup. | 4-0 |
| 8:58 | | +2 | Courtney Williams makes a jump shot from 23 feet out. Alanna Smith with the assist. | 4-2 |
| 8:37 | | Kahleah Copper misses a jump shot from 21 feet out. | ||
| 8:37 | | Courtney Williams with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 8:21 | | +2 | Napheesa Collier makes a layup. Courtney Williams with the assist. | 4-4 |
| 8:04 | | Alanna Smith blocks a Brittney Griner layup. | ||
| 8:04 | | Alanna Smith with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 7:58 | | Courtney Williams misses a layup. | ||
| 7:58 | | Napheesa Collier with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 7:57 | | +2 | Napheesa Collier makes a layup. | 4-6 |
| 7:57 | | Shooting foul committed by Sophie Cunningham. | ||
| 7:57 | | +1 | Napheesa Collier makes free throw 1 of 1. | 4-7 |
| 7:46 | | +2 | Natasha Cloud makes a layup. | 6-7 |
| 7:29 | | Napheesa Collier misses a jump shot from 19 feet out. | ||
| 7:29 | | Kahleah Copper with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 7:11 | | Diana Taurasi misses a 3-point jump shot from 29 feet out. | ||
| 7:11 | | Napheesa Collier with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 7:02 | | Courtney Williams misses a jump shot from 21 feet out. | ||
| 7:02 | | Brittney Griner with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 6:48 | | Diana Taurasi misses a jump shot from 16 feet out. | ||
| 6:48 | | Napheesa Collier with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 6:37 | | Shooting foul committed by Sophie Cunningham. | ||
| 6:37 | | +1 | Napheesa Collier makes free throw 1 of 2. | 6-8 |
| 6:37 | | +1 | Napheesa Collier makes free throw 2 of 2. | 6-9 |
| 6:27 | | +2 | Natasha Cloud makes a layup. | 8-9 |
| 6:13 | | +2 | Alanna Smith makes a jump shot from 14 feet out. Kayla McBride with the assist. | 8-11 |
| 5:56 | | Personal foul committed by Alanna Smith. | ||
| 5:47 | | Natasha Cloud misses a jump shot from 18 feet out. | ||
| 5:47 | | Bridget Carleton with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 5:34 | | +2 | Napheesa Collier makes a jump shot from 8 feet out. Courtney Williams with the assist. | 8-13 |
| 5:19 | | Diana Taurasi misses a layup. | ||
| 5:19 | | Diana Taurasi with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 5:16 | | Courtney Williams steals the ball from Diana Taurasi. | ||
| 5:10 | | +2 | Napheesa Collier makes a layup. Courtney Williams with the assist. | 8-15 |
| 5:06 | | Mercury take a full timeout. | ||
| 5:06 | | Substitution: Mikiah Herbert Harrigan in for Sophie Cunningham. | ||
| 4:47 | | Brittney Griner misses a jump shot from 9 feet out. | ||
| 4:47 | | Lynx with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 4:30 | | +3 | Courtney Williams makes a 3-point jump shot from 23 feet out. Bridget Carleton with the assist. | 8-18 |
| 4:23 | | Bridget Carleton steals the ball from Natasha Cloud. | ||
| 4:17 | | +3 | Alanna Smith makes a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. Courtney Williams with the assist. | 8-21 |
| 4:00 | | Kahleah Copper misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | ||
| 4:00 | | Courtney Williams with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 3:44 | | Napheesa Collier misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | ||
| 3:44 | | Kahleah Copper with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 3:35 | | Brittney Griner misses a hook shot from 4 feet out. | ||
| 3:35 | | Alanna Smith with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 3:23 | | +2 | Napheesa Collier makes a layup. Courtney Williams with the assist. | 8-23 |
| 3:05 | | Shooting foul committed by Alanna Smith. | ||
| 3:05 | | Brittney Griner misses free throw 1 of 2. | ||
| 3:05 | | Mercury with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 3:05 | | Substitution: Natisha Hiedeman in for Alanna Smith. | ||
| 3:05 | | Substitution: Myisha Hines-Allen in for Courtney Williams. | ||
| 3:05 | | Substitution: Sophie Cunningham in for Mikiah Herbert Harrigan. | ||
| 3:05 | | Substitution: Celeste Taylor in for Diana Taurasi. | ||
| 3:05 | | Brittney Griner misses free throw 2 of 2. | ||
| 3:05 | | Bridget Carleton with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 2:52 | | Bridget Carleton misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 2:52 | | Natasha Cloud with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 2:44 | | +2 | Kahleah Copper makes a layup. | 10-23 |
| 2:31 | | Substitution: Natasha Mack in for Brittney Griner. | ||
| 2:29 | | +3 | Bridget Carleton makes a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. Myisha Hines-Allen with the assist. | 10-26 |
| 2:14 | | Personal foul committed by Myisha Hines-Allen. | ||
| 2:02 | | +2 | Natasha Cloud makes a jump shot from 22 feet out. Celeste Taylor with the assist. | 12-26 |
| 1:44 | | Jump Ball: Myisha Hines-Allen vs. Celeste Taylor. | ||
| 1:34 | | Kayla McBride misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | ||
| 1:34 | | Natasha Mack with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 1:23 | | Kahleah Copper misses a layup. | ||
| 1:23 | | Natasha Mack with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 1:18 | | +3 | Sophie Cunningham makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. Celeste Taylor with the assist. | 15-26 |
| 59.9 | | +3 | Kayla McBride makes a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. Napheesa Collier with the assist. | 15-29 |
| 51.2 | | +2 | Natasha Cloud makes a jump shot from 18 feet out. | 17-29 |
| 39.0 | | Napheesa Collier misses a 3-point jump shot from 23 feet out. | ||
| 39.0 | | Mercury with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 38.5 | | Substitution: Diana Taurasi in for Kahleah Copper. | ||
| 25.4 | | Natasha Cloud misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 25.4 | | Myisha Hines-Allen with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 19.8 | | +2 | Kayla McBride makes a layup. Myisha Hines-Allen with the assist. | 17-31 |
| 19.5 | | Shooting foul committed by Diana Taurasi. | ||
| 19.5 | | +1 | Kayla McBride makes free throw 1 of 1. | 17-32 |
| 04.2 | | +2 | Diana Taurasi makes a jump shot from 13 feet out. | 19-32 |
| 0.3 | | Natisha Hiedeman misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | ||
| 0.3 | | Lynx with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 0.0 | | End of the 1st Quarter | ||
| 39.0 | | Napheesa Collier misses a 3-point jump shot from 23 feet out. | ||
| 39.0 | | Mercury with a defensive rebound. |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00 | | Start of the 2nd Quarter | ||
| 9:46 | | +2 | Kayla McBride makes a jump shot from 17 feet out. Natisha Hiedeman with the assist. | 19-34 |
| 9:28 | | Diana Taurasi misses a jump shot from 20 feet out. | ||
| 9:28 | | Myisha Hines-Allen with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 9:18 | | +3 | Napheesa Collier makes a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. Natisha Hiedeman with the assist. | 19-37 |
| 8:56 | | +2 | Natasha Cloud makes a jump shot from 17 feet out. | 21-37 |
| 8:29 | | +3 | Napheesa Collier makes a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. Natisha Hiedeman with the assist. | 21-40 |
| 8:06 | | +2 | Natasha Cloud makes a jump shot from 18 feet out. | 23-40 |
| 7:41 | | Natasha Cloud blocks a Napheesa Collier layup. | ||
| 7:41 | | Natasha Cloud with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 7:38 | | +2 | Diana Taurasi makes a layup. Natasha Cloud with the assist. | 25-40 |
| 7:24 | | Shooting foul committed by Sophie Cunningham. | ||
| 7:24 | | +1 | Myisha Hines-Allen makes free throw 1 of 2. | 25-41 |
| 7:24 | | Substitution: Monique Billings in for Natasha Cloud. | ||
| 7:24 | | Substitution: Kahleah Copper in for Sophie Cunningham. | ||
| 7:24 | | Substitution: Brittney Griner in for Natasha Mack. | ||
| 7:24 | | +1 | Myisha Hines-Allen makes free throw 2 of 2. | 25-42 |
| 7:10 | | Brittney Griner misses a jump shot from 10 feet out. | ||
| 7:10 | | Myisha Hines-Allen with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 7:01 | | +2 | Cecilia Zandalasini makes a layup. Myisha Hines-Allen with the assist. | 25-44 |
| 6:46 | | Personal foul committed by Kayla McBride. | ||
| 6:42 | | Kahleah Copper misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | ||
| 6:42 | | Lynx with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 6:19 | | +2 | Natisha Hiedeman makes a layup. Napheesa Collier with the assist. | 25-46 |
| 6:09 | | +2 | Diana Taurasi makes a jump shot from 17 feet out. | 27-46 |
| 5:56 | | +2 | Myisha Hines-Allen makes a layup. Kayla McBride with the assist. | 27-48 |
| 5:44 | | Kahleah Copper misses a jump shot from 17 feet out. | ||
| 5:44 | | Natisha Hiedeman with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 5:37 | | +2 | Natisha Hiedeman makes a layup. | 27-50 |
| 5:35 | | Mercury take a full timeout. | ||
| 5:35 | | Substitution: Bridget Carleton in for Kayla McBride. | ||
| 5:35 | | Substitution: Natasha Cloud in for Diana Taurasi. | ||
| 5:21 | | Natasha Cloud misses a layup. | ||
| 5:21 | | Monique Billings with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 5:18 | | +2 | Monique Billings makes a layup. | 29-50 |
| 4:54 | | Myisha Hines-Allen misses a hook shot from 8 feet out. | ||
| 4:54 | | Brittney Griner with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 4:43 | | Cecilia Zandalasini steals the ball from Kahleah Copper. | ||
| 4:30 | | Natisha Hiedeman misses a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. | ||
| 4:30 | | Brittney Griner with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 4:17 | | +3 | Natasha Cloud makes a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. Kahleah Copper with the assist. | 32-50 |
| 3:50 | | Celeste Taylor blocks a Natisha Hiedeman layup. | ||
| 3:50 | | Napheesa Collier with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 3:50 | | Shooting foul committed by Brittney Griner. | ||
| 3:50 | | Substitution: Kayla McBride in for Natisha Hiedeman. | ||
| 3:50 | | Substitution: Alanna Smith in for Myisha Hines-Allen. | ||
| 3:50 | | +1 | Napheesa Collier makes free throw 2 of 2. | 32-52 |
| 3:39 | | Personal foul committed by Bridget Carleton. | ||
| 3:34 | | Kahleah Copper misses a jump shot from 6 feet out. | ||
| 3:34 | | Brittney Griner with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 3:26 | | Napheesa Collier blocks a Brittney Griner layup. | ||
| 3:26 | | Courtney Williams with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 3:22 | | Monique Billings steals the ball from Courtney Williams. | ||
| 3:11 | | Monique Billings misses a layup. | ||
| 3:11 | | Monique Billings with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 3:05 | | Shooting foul committed by Alanna Smith. | ||
| 3:05 | | Lynx take a full timeout. | ||
| 3:05 | | Substitution: Myisha Hines-Allen in for Alanna Smith. | ||
| 3:05 | | Substitution: Diana Taurasi in for Celeste Taylor. | ||
| 3:05 | | +1 | Brittney Griner makes free throw 1 of 2. | 33-52 |
| 3:05 | | +1 | Brittney Griner makes free throw 2 of 2. | 34-52 |
| 2:48 | | Courtney Williams misses a jump shot from 21 feet out. | ||
| 2:48 | | Kahleah Copper with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 2:34 | | Brittney Griner misses a jump shot from 18 feet out. | ||
| 2:34 | | Kayla McBride with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 2:26 | | Kayla McBride misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. | ||
| 2:26 | | Kayla McBride with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 2:14 | | Shooting foul committed by Kahleah Copper. | ||
| 2:14 | | +1 | Napheesa Collier makes free throw 1 of 2. | 34-53 |
| 2:14 | | +1 | Napheesa Collier makes free throw 2 of 2. | 34-54 |
| 2:09 | | Kahleah Copper with a turnover - Bad Pass | ||
| 1:55 | | Courtney Williams misses a jump shot from 18 feet out. | ||
| 1:55 | | Napheesa Collier with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 1:41 | | Bridget Carleton misses a layup. | ||
| 1:41 | | Diana Taurasi with a defensive rebound. | ||
| 1:33 | | +3 | Diana Taurasi makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. | 37-54 |
| 1:12 | | Personal foul committed by Diana Taurasi. | ||
| 1:06 | | Kahleah Copper steals the ball from Napheesa Collier. | ||
| 59.4 | | +2 | Kahleah Copper makes a layup. | 39-54 |
| 38.8 | | Courtney Williams misses a jump shot from 18 feet out. | ||
| 38.8 | | Bridget Carleton with an offensive rebound. | ||
| 34.5 | | +2 | Bridget Carleton makes a jump shot from 16 feet out. | 39-56 |
| 13.4 | | +3 | Natasha Cloud makes a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. | 42-56 |
| 04.2 | |