In the playoffs things are different. The intensity, passion and stakes go up a level. But in Thursday’s single elimination second round playoff matchup against Phoenix, Minnesota stuck to what they’ve been doing all regular season: winning in dramatic fashion after trailing by double digits.
In 2018 and 2019 the Lynx were sent home in the first round. They bucked that trend by defeating their former rival Phoenix Mercury 80-79 in a hard fought, closely contested game. The headlines before tip off were focused on the return of Minnesota’s best player: Sylvia Fowles. She missed her team’s final 14 games with a calf strain but rejoined the Lynx lineup on Thursday.