Sylllllllll- via!

One of the Lynx's untouchables:

The Los Angeles Sparks were expected to be out-rebounded by the Minnesota Lynx in the Finals. But in Game 2 they were completely crushed on the boards in Minnesota’s 79-60 win. The Sparks’ inability to box out Lynx bigs Sylvia Fowles, Rebekkah Brunson and Natasha Howard made the difference in what wasn’t an impressive offensive night for either team.

In a best-of-5 series tied at a game apiece, Game 3 is pivotal. If L.A. can’t match Minnesota’s physicality on the boards, the Lynx will stand a win away from repeating as champions.

The Lynx were the best overall rebounding team in the league this year, collecting 53.8 percent of possible rebounds, and the second-best offensive rebounding team at 30.2 percent. The Sparks were in the bottom half of the league in rebound percentage allowed, so Minnesota’s prowess in that department is no surprise.

But the Lynx were especially dominant on Tuesday, grabbing 46 rebounds to the Sparks’ 32. They collected 35 percent of possible offensive rebounds. They were able to capitalize too, scoring 17 points off 13 of them. Fowles and Brunson were responsible for nine offensive rebounds, and neither had to work particularly hard to get position at the rim. On a number of occasions they went untouched.

I love strong, defensive-minded women.

And to be in a sold-out arena with like-minded fans cheering on a winner?

Priceless!

A 19-point loss wasn’t expected to follow a buzzer-beating two-point win. The Lynx made the defensive changes necessary to win Game 2, protecting the paint and denying backdoor passes, to hold the Sparks to 33 percent shooting from the field.

Game 3 = Friday night in L.A. ...