MINNEAPOLIS _ The Lynx have now made this a series.
After dropping Game 1 of the WNBA finals at home to a Sparks team that led by 26 early and won on a Chelsea Gray jumper late, the Lynx responded with a poised, balanced _ and probably too close _ 70-68 victory in Game 2 Tuesday that evened the best-of-five series at a game apiece as the series shifts to Los Angeles.
All five Lynx starters scored in double figures. Each of the five had their moments, and everyone was a part of a hard-fought victory at Williams Arena.
Of course, nothing was easy. The Lynx saw a 20-point lead in the third quarter dwindle to 10 entering the fourth. They still led by nine points when a Nneka Ogwumike three cut it to six.
And the pressure was on. With the Lynx struggling at the free-throw line, the Sparks pulled to within 70-68 with 33.2 seconds left on two free throws by Candace Parker.
Maya Moore missed in the lane.
Out of a time out with 13.4 seconds left, the Sparks were unable to inbounds the ball.
But wait. Lindsay Whalen's inbounds pass went off Seimone Augustus' knee and out of bounds with 13.1 seconds left. But this time the Sparks didn't have the magic. Gray once again got the ball as time was ticking away. Enter Rebekkah Brunson, who stole the ball, sealing the win.
Moore and Sylvia Fowles scored 13 points for the Lynx; Fowles also had a WNBA finals-record 17 rebounds. Brunson had 12, Whalen 14, Augustus 11.
Parker led the Sparks with 17. Gray had 15.
It was a strikingly different first quarter than it was Sunday, when the Lynx found themselves down 26 points 7{ minutes in.
This time the Lynx started fast, with Whalen leading the way. She scored seven points as the Lynx jumped to an 11-5 start. And the Lynx kept going. With Brunson and Fowles scoring six each, the Lynx shot 12 for 19 in the 28-10 quarter, while holding the Sparks to 4-for-18 shooting. The Lynx also forced six Spark turnovers, which they turned into nine points.
But the Sparks came roaring right back, with Essence Carson scoring seven points in a 12-2 run to start the second that pulled Los Angeles within eight and forced a Lynx time out with 6:17 left in the half.
And the Lynx responded, going on an 11-2 run over the next four minutes _ one in which five players scored _ to take a 41-24 lead on Montgomery's drive with 2:17 left.
That lead grew to 19 by halftime, 45-26. The half ended with the Lynx shooting 51.4 percent to the Sparks' 28.1. The Lynx held Parker and Ogwumike to a combined 0 for 11, out-rebounded the Sparks 20-13 and had a 14-2 edge on points off turnovers.
More importantly, they answered that 12-2 Sparks run to start the half with a 15-4 run to end it.
But Ogwumike and Parker were bound to get going. And they did, in the third quarter, combining for 14 points.
The Lynx were up 19 when the Sparks went on a 10-2 run to pull within 11 on Parker's three-point play with 5:34 left in the third quarter and forcing a Lynx time out.
This time the Lynx really couldn't stem the tide. With Moore on the bench with four fouls, the Sparks ended the quarter on a 20-11 run to pull within 10 points entering the fourth quarter.
