Brunson, Fowles dominate

How good was Rebekkah Brunson tonight?

Let us count the ways. She had 13 points. She had 19 rebounds, seven on the offensive end. She had two assists, two steals and a block.

She dominated this game.

In the process she put up the fourth-highest single-game rebounding total in WNBA playoff history, and she emerged from the Lynx's victory in this opening game of the Western Conference finals with 143 career playoff offensive rebounds, most in league history.

Is that enough?

After the game Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said the team's promotions department needed to get Brunson a deal with Curad or Band-Aid, because Brunson was just the bandage the Lynx needed on a night when several of their players couldn't shoot straight. Maya Moore, one of those players for three quarters, offered to be Brunson's agent.

Bottom line is the Lynx have a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series that moves to Phoenix for Game 2 Sunday.

--Center Sylvia Fowles was darn near as dominant as Brunson. Picking up the challenge of guarding Mercury center Brittney Griner, Fowles scored 12 points, had 14 rebounds and three blocked shots. She had Griner completely out of synch, finishing with nine points and six rebounds.

--This was, by far, the least amount of points Phoenix had scored all year.

--Brunson and Fowles played well enough to cover up for Moore, who was 4-for-14 through three quarters, and Augustus, who was 3-for-11. And, as is their wont, both Moore (10 points) and Augustus (six) came through down the stretch.

--Guard Lindsay Whalen was just 1-for-6 for three points, though she did have five assists. The Lynx will need more out of both her and from Anna Cruz off the bench in Game 2.

--More amazing numbers. The Lynx had a 44-30 edge in rebounding. Together, Fowles and Brunson (33) out-rebounded the entire Mercury roster.