The Minnesota Lynx shrugged off an uneven first half to beat the Chicago Sky 91-78 on Monday. Napheesa Collier and Courtney Williams played well in the first 20 minutes, but the Lynx trailed 46-44 at halftime. Minnesota decisively won the second half 47-32 to walk away with a win.
Collier tallied a game-high 29 points, five assists, three rebounds and three steals. Williams' two-way excellence shone. She contributed 18 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and four steals.
Angel Reese extended her streak of double-double games to nine. She put up 22 points, 10 rebounds and three assists for the Sky.
Minnesota Lynx vs Chicago Sky player stats and box score
Minnesota Lynx player stats and box score
Chicago Sky player stats and box score
Minnesota Lynx vs Chicago Sky Game Summary
The Minnesota Lynx got another shot at the Chicago Sky on Monday. Napheesa Collier and Co., who lost 87-81 two nights ago, looked for some payback entering the rematch. The Lynx hoped to limit the Sky’s dominance on the boards and inside the paint to even their mini-series to 1-1.
Courtney Williams and Collier combined for 20 points in the first quarter to give the Lynx a 28-24 lead. Minnesota's 6-for-11 clip from deep was a key reason for its hot start.
Meanwhile, Michaela Onyenwere and Angel Reese, who tallied 13 points together, kept the home team within striking distance.
The Sky dropped a sizzling 13-2 run in the opening six minutes of the second quarter to lead 37-30. Minnesota burned two timeouts to regroup but trailed 46-44 at halftime. Rachel Banham stepped up to help Reese drag the Sky to a slight edge after 20 minutes of action.
The Lynx and the Sky swapped roles in the third quarter. Minnesota dominated on both ends to win the period 24-17 to regain a 68-63 lead entering the fourth quarter. Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve continued to receive superb contributions from her starters, but the bench has only delivered four points heading into the final 10 minutes.
Napheesa Collier and her teammates kept their foot on the gas in the fourth quarter to leave Chicago with a 91-78 win. Minnesota's top-ranked defense bared its teeth in the second half to even the two-game mini-series against the Sky.