Connecticut Sun vs Minnesota Lynx player stats and box scores for Oct. 1 | Game 2 WNBA playoffs

The Connecticut Sun hoped to take a 2-0 series lead on Tuesday against the Minnesota Lynx. Alyssa Thomas and Co. stunned the hosts on Sunday with a closely-fought 73-70 win to give them home-court advantage in the best-of-five affair. The Sun kept it close throughout the game, but the desperate Lynx held on for a 77-70 victory.

Connecticut's defense slowed down Napheesa Collier, limiting her to nine points on 3-for-14 shooting. Alanna Smith, Courtney Williams and Kayla McBride, however, stepped up to support this year's MVP runner-up. The trio combined for 43 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists.

Alyssa Thomas had another impressive all-around game, finishing the game with 18 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and two steals. Thomas had solid support from the starting unit, but the Minnesota Lynx did enough to even the series.

---

Connecticut Sun vs Minnesota Lynx player stats and box scores

Connecticut Sun player stats and box scores

Player	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	FG	3-PT FG	FT	+/-
D. Bonner	17	6	3	5	0	1	5-15	3-7	4-4	-8
A. Thomas	18	10	7	2	0	2	7-14	0-1	4-5	-9
B. Jones	2	2	2	0	0	2	1-3	0-0	0-0	-1
M. Mabrey	15	3	2	1	1	4	4-14	2-8	5-6	-5
D. Carrington	14	4	0	1	1	2	5-13	0-3	4-5	-9
O. Nelson-Ododa	4	5	0	1	0	0	2-4	0-0	0-0	-3
T. Harris	0	0	0	0	0	0	0-1	0-1	0-0	-4
V. Burton	0	2	2	0	0	1	0-2	0-0	0-0	-4
C. Bickle	DNP	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
A. Ndour-Fall	DNP	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
T. Mitchell	DNP	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Minnesota Lynx player stats and box scores

Player	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	FG	3-PT FG	FT	+/-
B. Carleton	9	2	0	0	0	2	3-5	1-3	2-2	+10
A. Smith	15	6	2	1	1	1	6-8	3-4	0-0	-2
N. Collier	9	12	5	1	4	1	3-14	1-4	2-2	+9
K. McBride	11	3	2	2	0	2	4-10	1-4	2-2	+6
C. Williams	17	5	4	1	0	5	6-13	1-1	4-4	+6
M. Hines-Allen	7	3	1	0	0	1	3-6	0-0	1-2	+11
C. Zandalasini	5	2	1	0	0	1	1-2	1-2	2-2	+2
N. Hiedeman	4	2	2	0	0	2	2-4	0-1	0-0	+3
D. Juhasz	DNP	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
D. Miller	DNP	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
A. Pili	DNP	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
O. Epoupa	DNP	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

---

Connecticut Sun vs Minnesota Lynx: Game summary

The Sun-Lynx rematch proved to be a defensive struggle in the opening period. Minnesota won the first quarter 12-10 with Napheesa Collier and Bridget Carleton leading the way for the Lynx. The Lynx struggled to put up points against the team with the stingiest defense in the regular season.

Marina Mabrey stepped up to support Alyssa Thomas as the seesaw battle continued in the second quarter. Thomas had six points, six rebounds and three assists. Mabrey contributed 11 points, the only one in double-digit scoring in the first half of Game 2 for both teams.

Minnesota took a 36-30 lead leading into the second half.

Marina Mabrey's hot hand got cold starting the second half, but the Connecticut Sun got a boost from DiJonai Carrington. The WNBA Most Improved Player winner scattered 12 of her 14 points in the second half to pick up the slack.

Napheesa Collier didn't have her usual big-scoring game for the Minnesota Lynx, but she was a pillar on the defensive end. Collier's 12 rebounds and four blocks led both teams. Even when she had trouble scoring, her impact on the game was felt on both ends of the floor.

The Connecticut Sun, though, had to be thrilled with an even series heading to their home court. They had to be encouraged by how their defense contained Collier and nearly stole another game from the Lynx.

Game 3 on Friday is expected to be another defensive slugfest but the Sun will have their fans cheering for them.