How Phoenix rallied past No. 1 seed Minnesota in OT to win an instant classic

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Lynx looked similar they were cruising to a comfy victory.

Enter the Phoenix Mercury.

The No. 6 effect Mercury overcame a 20-point shortage to upend the top-seeded Lynx 89-83 successful overtime. Per ESPN Research, it was conscionable the 2nd 20-point rally connected the roadworthy successful WNBA playoff history.

The bid shifts to Phoenix for Game 3 connected Friday (9:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2).

How did the Mercury bash it? Are the Lynx inactive the favourite successful the series? ESPN breaks down everything we saw successful Game 2 connected Tuesday.

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(1) Minnesota Lynx vs.
(4) Phoenix Mercury

Final: Phoenix 89, Minnesota 83 OT

What the triumph means for Phoenix

They accidental a bid doesn't commencement until the location squad loses. If that's the case, the semifinals betwixt the Mercury and Lynx person officially begun -- and successful epic fashion. Phoenix became conscionable the 5th squad successful WNBA playoff past to travel backmost from a 20-point deficit. And present the bid is tied 1-1.

Before tip-off Tuesday, manager Nate Tibbetts said the opening crippled of the bid ever has a feeling-out period. And portion that seemed to proceed a spot into Game 2, with the Mercury trailing by 16 astatine halftime, their grit to combat backmost shows conscionable however scary this squad is. Phoenix yet recovered its 3-point shot, knocking down 13 from beyond the arc, portion besides staying beardown successful the paint. Alyssa Thomas' 13 assists (to spell with 19 points) are the astir by a Mercury subordinate successful a playoff game.

This was arsenic adjacent to a must-win crippled arsenic it gets for a squad that wasn't facing elimination. And now, the Mercury get to instrumentality to the godforsaken with a accidental to triumph a brace of location games.

What the nonaccomplishment means for Minnesota

In galore games this year, Minnesota lone elevated its crippled arsenic it came retired of the locker country astatine halftime. But determination was nary magic successful the 2nd fractional connected Tuesday.

Now the Lynx caput to Phoenix and indispensable effort and regain their edge. At 14-8, the Lynx were tied for the champion roadworthy grounds during the regular season. Being distant from location doesn't typically look to flap their confidence. That has to beryllium the lawsuit successful Game 3.

Whose seat volition measurement up?

Phoenix's seat outscored Minnesota's reserves 22-3 connected Tuesday, a large portion of its monstrous comeback. Only Jessica Shepard scored disconnected the seat for Minnesota. In Game 1, the Lynx's 2nd portion had the edge.

So far, each of the stars successful this bid person done what is expected of them. Napheesa Collier and Kayla McBride person been high-volume scorers. Thomas and Satou Sabally person dominated. So, contributions from others mightiness specify this series.

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