Gameday preview: Lynx at Phoenix

2 P.M. at PHOENIX • Talking Stick Resort ARENA • ESPN, 106.1-FM

Lynx update: After taking Game 1 of the best-of-three series at home, after holding Phoenix to a season-low 60 points, to 32.8 percent shooting, the Lynx know the Mercury will come out hard at home in Game 2. The Lynx struggled to a 39.7 shooting percentage in Game 1 as well, but coach Cheryl Reeve liked a lot of the shots her team was getting. Game 1 stars were F Rebekkah Brunson and C Sylvia Fowles. Brunson had 19 rebounds — the fourth-highest playoff total in league history — seven on offense. She also scored 13 points. Fowles won the matchup with Phoenix C Brittney Griner, with 12 points and 14 rebounds. Together, Fowles and Brunson (33) outrebounded Mercury's team (30). Both F Maya Moore (7-for-20) and G Seimone Augustus (6-for-14) struggled with their shot, but they combined to go 6-for-9 for 16 points in Minnesota's 18-point fourth quarter. Lynx point guards Lindsay Whalen and backup Anna Cruz were a combined 2-for-11 for five points.

Mercury update: Phoenix coach Sandy Brondello pledged her team would do a better job in the paint, one of her team's traditional strong points. "We have to do a better job," she said after her team surrendered 38 points in the paint. "That's unacceptable.'' She also pledged a more efficient offense: "This team will respond. We're pretty good, we're a resilient bunch. We'll regroup and come out and play on our home court and put on a better showing.'' F DeWanna Bonner (21) was the only Mercury player in double figures in Game 1. F Candice Dupree (eight points), was held in check by Brunson and C Brittney Griner (nine points on 3-for-7 shooting) was outplayed by Fowles. Starting guards Marta Xargay and Monique Currie managed just 15 points on 4-for-16 shooting. The Mercury has won four in a row at home, including a 33-point victory over Tulsa in the conference semifinals.

Kent Youngblood