9 p.m. at Phoenix • US Airways Center • NBA TV, 106.1 FM

Preview: Minnesota's past two playoff wins — at San Antonio and Sunday vs. Phoenix, comprise two of the three biggest playoff deficits the team has overcome in franchise history. The Lynx need to avoid digging a hole on the road in Phoenix. And it all starts with F Maya Moore, G Seimone Augustus and PG Lindsay Whalen. Both Moore and Augustus have to play more like they did Sunday — when they scored a combined 55 points — than they were in Phoenix for Game 1. In that game Moore scored nine points on 3-for-9 shooting and Augustus didn't hit a field goal after the first period. Whalen has been impressive in both games, averaging 21.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists in the series. But the Lynx need more from the rest of the roster. Starters Rebekkah Brunson and Janel McCarville have, combined, scored just 24 points in two games. And the Lynx bench has scored just 11 points.

Mercury update: It comes down to who will win the key matchups in Game 3. And that means the Mercury need a lot out of F DeWanna Bonner, F Candice Dupree and G Penny Taylor. The Mercury know what they're going to get from PG Diana Taurasi and C Brittney Griner. In the Game 1 victory Bonner shut Moore down and scored 16 points herself. Sunday she scored three points and couldn't contain Moore. Taylor had 16 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists in Game 1, but was out-played by Augsutus on Sunday. Those remain the key matchups in Game 3.

KENT YOUNGBLOOD