Sun force decisive game in WNBA Finals
WNBA FINALS SUN 90, MYSTICS 86
UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Alyssa Thomas had 17 points, 11 assists and 8 rebounds to help the Connecticut Sun stave off elimination and force a decisive Game 5 of the WNBA Finals with a 90-86 victory over the Washington Mystics on Tuesday night.
The title will be decided Thursday night in Washington with a firsttime champion crowned. Thomas fell just short of the first triple-double in Finals history.
Jonquel Jones had 18 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Sun.
Connecticut blew a 16-point halftime lead as Washington used a huge third quarter to tie the game at 68-68. The Mystics kept it going to start the fourth, opening up a fivepoint lead. With their season on the line, the Sun responded.
Jasmine Thomas hit a three-pointer to put the Sun ahead 84-81. The lead was short-lived as Emma Meesseman answered with a three-pointer from the wing to tie the game again.
Shekinna Stricklen (Morrilton), the league’s three-point champion at the All-Star Game, then shook off a defender before making another three-pointer to give the Sun an 8784 advantage with 2:22 left. Natasha Cloud made a layup a few seconds later to get the Mystics within one.
That’s as close as they got as both teams missed open looks in the final two minutes. Aerial Powers, who led Washington with 15 points, missed an open three-pointer in the corner with 27.5 seconds left that would have given Washington the lead.
“Both teams were making big shots. We’d make a three, they’d answer with a three,” Sun Coach Curt Miller said. “Ultimately we made a few more plays down the stretch. We got to the line down the stretch. Alyssa Thomas was the best foul shooter in the game.”
Connecticut got the rebound and Jasmine Thomas sank two free throws with 18.4 seconds left to make it a three-point game.
After a timeout, Cloud drove to the basket but missed the shot, and Alyssa Thomas corralled the rebound and hit the first of two free throws to seal the victory.
Elena Delle Donne, who left Game 2 with back spasms that an MRI later showed resulted from a herniated disk, was able to play more Tuesday night than in Game 3, when she was limited to 26 minutes. The league MVP had 11 points and five rebounds while playing 30 minutes.
“I was a little looser today, so felt better. Hopefully continue to progress and feel better Thursday,” Delle Donne said. “They were playing more aggressive defensively. They weren’t letting us sit outside and shoot threes.”
Having a chance to win the title at home on Thursday gave the Mystics some confidence.
“That’s what we worked for this whole season,” Delle Donne said. “Can’t rely on being home to get it done. The way we came out and started the game dug us into a huge hole. They are a great team, and you give that type of lead to them, makes thing difficult.”