Lynx force Series-Deciding Game 5 with 85-79 win over Sparks

Facing a do-or-die scenario in Game 4 down 2-1, the Minnesota Lynx needed to step up big. Led by 31 points from Maya Moore, the Lynx did just that as they defeated the Sparks in Los Angeles by a final score of 85-79.

With the win, it will all come down to Game 5 on Thursday. Forty minutes between either a fourth WNBA championship for the Lynx or the first for the Sparks since 2002 (and the first for Candace Parker in her career).

Moore had plenty of help—courtesy of Lindsay Whalen who scored 13 points, Seimone Augustus who had 12, and Sylvia Fowles who contributed 10 points along with 13 rebounds.

For the Sparks, Chelsea Gray put in 20 points off the bench and Kristi Toliver scored 15 points on four-of-six shooting from three-point range. Parker also contributed 14 points, but the Lynx defense held her to a four-for-14 from the field. Minnesota’s defense also held Nneka Ogwumike to only 11 points.

The largest lead in this game was 10 and even that did not last long—a testament to how competitive this game was given the stakes.

Nice crowd at Staples Center for a competitive exciting game 4 of the #WNBAFinals! Very cool having Kobe in the building w his daughters!?

— Rosalyn Gold-Onwude (@ROSGO21) October 17, 2016

i can feel the tension in this game through the TV… everything on the line! i love it!!! #WNBAFinals

— Kayla McBride (@kaymac_2123) October 17, 2016

With about a minute remaining, the Sparks were only down two (79-77) before clutch free throws from Moore as well as Rebekkah Brunson put the game away and sent the series back to Minnesota.

Many on social media are also talking about an instance late in the game where Minnesota may or may not have committed an 8-second backcourt violation. That and a foul call on Parker are also getting much attention in postgame chatter.

Refs have no idea what's happening! This is a mess! #WNBAFinals

— Cari Champion (@CariChampion) October 17, 2016

How the refs miss a backcourt violation in any game let alone game 4 of the finals series is beyond me. #wow

— Abby Bishop (@Abby_Knight10) October 17, 2016

None of that matters now with the series even at two apiece. Only one thing does now.