RandBall: The Lynx once again lift up Minnesota sports

It was my mistake, but at least I knew better.

Deep into Thursday night, as the Lynx battled for three quarters but couldn’t seem to make a dent in Golden State’s consistent double-digit lead, I muttered to myself, “I think the Lynx are cooked in this one.”

With that, the power button on the TV was pressed off. With an early morning ahead and the night already getting late, it was time to get ready for sleep.

But ... these are the Lynx. So after about five minutes, I allowed myself one quick peek at the score.

Hmm, they cut it from 14 to 10 in the first minute of the fourth quarter.

I ended up watching the rest of the fourth quarter on my phone, witnessing a completed comeback and 75-74 win over the Valkyries. My sleep was cooked, but the Lynx certainly were not.

Theirs was the only quarterfinal series to end in a sweep, an impressive feat in an increasingly competitive WNBA. They now get to rest until Sunday while their primary playoff challengers face win-or-else Game 3s.

For the last 15 years, the Lynx have delivered by far the most good news of any Minnesota pro sports team (with the Frost joining the party very recently by winning back-to-back Walter Cup titles).

Beyond the Lynx’s long-term success of four championships, nearly a fifth last year and the hopes for a title this year, is how Thursday’s comeback stands juxtaposed with much of the rest of the current Minnesota sports scene.

That’s where we’ll start off today’s nine other things to know: