Game 5 preview
7 P.M. VS. Indiana • Target Center • ESPN2, 106.1-FM
Lynx update: This series has been about as close as it could get. Through four games, Indiana has outscored the Lynx 298-295. This is the first time the Lynx have been in a position to win a title on their home court, where the team is 19-2 in the playoffs under coach Cheryl Reeve. But both of those losses have come to Indiana. The Lynx are 1-3 when trailing in the postseason after three quarters. They are 11-7 all-time in playoff close-out games. C Sylvia Fowles' foul trouble limited her to 18 minutes, two shots and five points Sunday. Maya Moore has averaged 22.5 points and 8.8 rebounds in the series and has scored in double figures in all nine postseason games this year. After getting significant contributions from G Renee Montgomery and G Anna Cruz in two wins this series — they combined for 22 points and seven assists in Game 3 and 18 points and five assists in Game 2 — they had just six points combined Sunday in Game 4. G Seimone Augustus has scored in double figures in three consecutive games, but is shooting 34.5 percent in the series. G Lindsay Whalen is coming off a series-high 16 points on 7-for-10 shooting Sunday.
Fever update: Indiana is coming off the most dominant victory of the series; the Fever's 75-69 victory Sunday was not as close as the final score indicated. Indiana is 5-0 in elimination games this postseason. The team's 14-point third-quarter lead is the biggest so far in this series. G Shenise Johnson, who led Indiana with 15 points Sunday, has scored in double figures in every finals game. G Briann January, who scored 13 Sunday, set a career high with 11 free throws on 12 attempts, and the Fever is 64-for-70 (91.4 percent) from the line in the finals. January (16 ppg) is the Fever's leading scorer in this series. With four offensive rebounds, C Erlana Larkins moved into fifth all-time in league playoff history with 130. Indiana's win Sunday was the 35th in the playoffs in franchise history, most in the league.
Kent Youngblood
