Lynx and Sun will go distance after Connecticut serves in the second half

UNCASVILLE, CONN. – The WNBA semifinals go back to Target Center for a winner-take-all Game 5 and suddenly the Lynx have a defensive problem.

The Lynx put up as many as 10 points in the second quarter, went cold on offense and couldn’t stop the Sun in a 92-82 loss to Connecticut at Mohegan Sun Arena on Sunday. To close out the series, the Lynx will instead host a game on Tuesday night to determine who will face the top-seeded New York Liberty in the WNBA Finals, which begin Thursday in New York.

With 3 minutes and 24 seconds left in the second quarter, the Lynx had a 10-point lead, 61-41 (23-24).

A big reason was Harris. She was limited in the first three games of the series due to an ankle injury, but returned to the starting lineup and electrified the Sun offense. She hit seven of 11 shots, including four of five three-pointers, and scored 20 points.

It gave the Suns more ball-handling up front, more depth off the bench and more problems for the Lynx.

And Harris wasn’t alone. She was one of five Sun players to score in double figures in coach Stephanie White’s very tight six-player rotation. Alyssa Thomas had 18 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists. DeWanna Bonner had 18 points, eight rebounds, four steals and a block.

It was all too much for the Lynx, who shot 18 of 31 in the first half but just 10 of 26 in the second.