The losses have created a narrative propelled by the concept of pressure

The losses have created a narrative propelled by the concept of pressure

22.10.2019 15:09

LOS ANGELES -- Midway through the first quarter, Maya Moore was looking in her teammates eyes, searching for clues as to how the game would go.She could see their passion and resolve.I knew we were going to fight, she said.Moore scored 31 points and Minnesotas defense held Nneka Ogwumike and Candace Parker in check to help the Lynx beat the Los Angeles Sparks 85-79 on Sunday night and force a decisive fifth game in the WNBA Finals.Every possession was so crucial and we just made more of them, Moore said.Lindsay Whalen added 13 points, Seimone Augustus had 12 and Sylvia Fowles had 10 points and 13 rebounds in tying the series 2-2 and sending it back to Minneapolis, where the Lynx will try to win their record-tying fourth championship on Thursday.This is what a Finals game should look like, Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve said. Both teams leaving it all on the floor.Ogwumike, the league MVP, scored 11 points on 5 of 10 shooting, while two-time MVP Parker scored 14 points and made 6 of 7 free throws for the Sparks, who were trying to close out their first title since 2002 in front of their fans at Staples Center.Chelsea Gray led the Sparks with 20 points off the bench. She was 6 of 11 and made all four of her free throws.The Sparks outscored the Lynx 10-4 to open the fourth, tying it at 69-all on Parkers driving bank shot as she fell out of bounds. Los Angeles got most of its points at the free throw line, going 6 of 9 in that span.Whalen scored two straight baskets to put the Lynx back in front 73-69 on turnovers by Ogwumike and Kristi Toliver, who finished with 15 points.Well replay this game in our minds and know we have to play with a little bit more poise down the stretch, Toliver said. Be more decisive.Trailing 77-72, Gray hit her fourth 3-pointer to draw the Sparks within two.We were trying, we were making things happen down the stretch, Los Angeles coach Brian Agler said. Its just the ability to play with poise down the stretch.The teams traded baskets and Minnesota led 79-77. Parker was called for a shooting foul on Rebekkah Brunson, who made both free throws for an 81-77 lead. Before Parker fouled Brunson, it appeared that Minnesota hadnt gotten the ball across halfcourt in time to avoid an 8-second violation. Replays suggested the ball was still in the backcourt when the shot clock was at 16.I think they forgot they had to get the ball over the line, Toliver said. But thats life. We cant leave it up to the officials to determine a series. We have to go take it.With 42 seconds left, Whalen lost the ball to Ogwumike. At the Sparks end, Brunson stole it from Parker, who ended up getting whistled for the foul.I had it at one point and after that I didnt see what happened because I think I was on the floor, Whalen said. It was kind of a wild play.Moore stole an inbounds pass and Ogwumike fouled her with 4 seconds left. Moore made both to close out the win, missing just one of her 12 free throw attempts.We fought today, Ogwumike said. When it comes to focus and awareness, we can sharpen up there. Were going to fight again.The Lynx scored six in a row to take their largest lead, 52-42, early in the third, which ended in a 3-point contest. The Sparks made three, including two by Gray, and Moore hit two 3s for the Lynx, who led 65-59 going into the fourth. Moore scored 10 points in the third.Minnesota dominated the Sparks 22-4 in fastbreak points and controlled the boards, 41-25.STILL HURTJanel McCarville missed her second straight game with a back injury, leaving the Lynx without her 6-foot-2 post presence.FOUL TROUBLEBrunson, who guarded Parker much of the time, finished with six points and five fouls. Fowles had four fouls.KOBE & THE GIRLSA bearded Kobe Bryant returned to the scene of some of his greatest career moments, watching courtside with wife Vanessa and their two daughters. Also on hand was Sparks co-owner Magic Johnson, who returned from Chicago where the Dodgers were playing the Cubs in the National League Championship Series at the same time. Lakers guard Lou Williams, Cedric the Entertainer and Marsai Martin of black-ish attended.UP NEXTGame 5 is Thursday in Minnesota. Custom San Diego Padres Nike Jerseys . Halladay signed a one-day contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday that allowed the veteran right-hander to retire as a member of team with which he broke into the majors and spent the bulk of his distinguished 16-year career. Custom Cincinnati Reds Nike Jerseys . -- Cam Newton pranced into the end zone, placed his hands over his chest and did his familiar Superman pose. https://www.custombaseballnikejerseys.com/?tag=custom-st-louis-cardinals-nike-jerseys . Mitch Holmberg added a goal and three assists. Connor Chartier also scored for the Chiefs (3-0-0). Luke Harrison spoiled Garrett Hughsons shutout bid with a power-play goal at 13:17 of the third period. The Spokane goaltender finished with 28 saves, including a Brandon Fushimi penalty shot in the second period that would have tied the game 1-1. Custom Authentic Baseball Jerseys . PETERSBURG, Fla. Custom Nike Baseball Jerseys . Now tied for second in the league in shootout goals, the 24-year-old likes to see what the opposing goaltender has in store before he ultimately lands on a move. WIMBLEDON -- So close, yet so far. Its the least appropriate expression to apply to the career of Serena Williams. Its also the most accurate description of her present state as she reboots her drive to equal Steffi Grafs record 22 Grand Slam singles titles in the Open era.With her No. 1 ranking on the line at this tournament for the first time in a long while, Williams subdued Swiss qualifier Amra Sadikovic on Centre Court in swirling winds in an hour and 14 minutes 6-2, 6-4.These are strange times for Williams. She is living multiple dilemmas. They are mostly of her own making.Its partly because Williams walked away from the 2015 season after absorbing that historic loss to Roberta Vinci at the US Open and has only played five tournaments so far this year.Williams has more Grand Slam match-wins over the past three Grand Slam events than any other WTA player (17). Yet the titles went to Flavia Pennetta, who celebrated her triumph at the 2015 US Open by calling it a career, Angelique Kerber, who reacted to winning this years Australian Open by slumping badly, and, most recently, French Open champ Garbine Muguruza.So close, yet so far. Its unfair, but Williams failures in finals are magnified by their historic significance. If she had just 15 majors, losing a final at age 34 would earn her plaudits. But shes on Graf like a backpack, so the shortfalls are epic.I think more or less about winning Australia, Williams said after the match. I think about winning the French Open. Didnt happen. I think about winning Wimbledon. I dont necessarily think about winning 22.Mentally Ive been further down than anyone can be. Well, maybe not anyone, but Ive been pretty low. Theres nothing thats not mentally too hard for me.The losses have created a narrative propelled by the concept of pressure. Some blame Williams failures since the Vinci match on that component. They have their reasons, even if they tend to go light on the age-related factors or the quality of some of Williams opponents.Its a glass half-empty, half-full kinnd of thing, Tracy Austin, Tennis Channel commentator and former US Open champion told ESPN.ddddddddddddcom after Williams won Tuesday. People are asking, Whats wrong with Serena? Well, nothing. Shes still getting to finals. And she still has many opportunities.The most important thing is how she looks at it. What shes feeling, and I dont think any athlete is ever going to be 100 percent open about that.If Williams felt any pressure, she didnt show it in her opening match. On the other hand, her opponent was one of the two players in the singles (the other is British ATP sensation Marcus Willis) who was, until recently, feeding balls to kids as a teaching pro at a tennis club.Sadikovic, 27, tried the pro game but grew frustrated and disillusioned two years ago. She took a long break and only returned when she saw how well a similar program worked out for fellow countrywoman Timea Bacsinszky. Sadikovic is an athletic 6-foot-1 with good mobility, some tricky slices and spins and a big serve -- but not as big a Williams.While Williams hit more double faults than aces (5-4), she lost just seven points when she put her first serve in. Her returns was far superior to Sadikovics, accounting for four breaks.She plays an old-school grass-court game, Williams said. I knew that going in. Once I knew that, Im really ready. I was ready for it.So Williams has hit the reset button once again. Repeated failures tend to raise repeated questions. Is she obsessed with the singles record and feeling the pressure to equal Graf? What does she need to do to accomplish that?According to Austin, its simply a matter of relaxing and playing her game on the surface on which she feels most comfortable.I would be lying if I said I feel fresh, but I dont feel fatigue, Williams said. I dont think I feel fresh, but I feel real hungry, super-motivated, extremely ready to do the best.Maybe shes not so far after all. ' ' '


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