Mission accomplished for the Minnesota Lynx, who were able to successfully flip home-court advantage in their favor after securing an impressive come-from-behind road win in Game 1 against the New York Liberty.
But winning two games in New York? That would be unreasonable.
So, now we enter a best-of-three series, with the Lynx playing the next two games at home. Can they win both games on their home floor to secure their fifth championship since 2011?
Keep reading our Minnesota Lynx Game 3 predictions with odds and a team guide below to find out!
Minnesota Lynx Game 3 Odds vs. New York Liberty
| Liberty Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3.5 -110 | 160.5 -115o / -105u | -160 |
| Lynx Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3.5 -110 | 160.5 -115o / -105u | +135 |
- Lynx vs. Liberty Spread: Lynx -3.5 (-110)
- Lynx vs. Liberty Over/Under: 160.5 points (-115o / -105u)
- Lynx Moneyline: Lynx +135
Why The Minnesota Lynx Can Cover In Game 3
Several reasons exist why Minnesota can cover in Game 3, especially as home dogs in a series in which it has already won one game.
The first reason is obvious: Napheesa Collier.
Except for one uncharacteristic game against the Sun in which she finished just 3-for-14 from the floor, she has shot just shy of 60% from the field in the postseason.
That level of efficiency on the offensive end simply does not exist with any other player (not named A'ja Wilson) across the league. She forces defenses to make the impossible decision of either leaving someone on an island with her or sending a double team, which results in clean looks for the Lynx's other players.
Building off that point, the Lynx have been the best 3-point shooting team in the W, hitting 38% of their attempts in the regular season and 37% in the playoffs.
And lastly, Minnesota's pesky defense can cause issues for opposing teams. In fact, the Lynx ranked first in defensive rating and second in opponent-effective field goal percentage this season.
Look no further than Game 1 of this series to see why the Lynx can keep themselves in games that they otherwise would not be in.
Liberty vs. Lynx: Get Collier Touches
Betting Pick & Prediction
The combination of grit and resiliency that the Lynx showed in Game 1 was impressive, but ultimately, they have little chance of winning this series (and this game) due to glaring issues on the glass and a substantial size disadvantage in the frontcourt.
Even though the Liberty posted a 48/46/79 shooting split in Game 2, they still somehow managed to pull down 10 offensive rebounds, marking the second consecutive game they were able to reach double-digit boards on the "O-Glass."
In fact, New York had an astonishing 20 offensive rebounds in Game 1, and while some of that was due to poor shooting, most was because it is a far superior rebounding team.
Additionally, the Liberty seem to have locked in on a strategy for how to defend the Lynx: limit Collier's touches (only 12 field goal attempts in Game 2), close out on all perimeter shots, and thus, live with shots off the dribble in the mid-range and contested shots in the paint.
The Liberty can live with Collier taking 12 to 14 shots but not 20 or more due to her shooting efficiency.
New York understands that.
At the end of the day, a brutal five-minute stretch in Game 1 is the difference between a dominant 2-0 series lead for the Liberty. Expect that dominance to continue with a win here.
My Pick: New York Liberty -2.5 (-115, ESPN Bet)
How to Watch Lynx vs. Liberty Game 3
| Liberty vs. Lynx | Wednesday, October 16 |
| Start Time: | 8 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | ESPN / ESPN+, YouTube TV |
| Location: | Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota |
Lynx vs. Liberty is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET live from the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Wednesday.
With the series tied at 1-1, Game 3 of the WNBA Finals between the New York Liberty and the Minnesota Lynx is on ESPN and streaming on ESPN+, YouTube TV, and other streaming platforms as the two teams look to see who can take a 2-1 series edge.
