Napheesa Collier and the Lynx will find scoring harder to come by against the Sun in the semifinals

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — After Napheesa Collier carried the Minnesota Lynx to victory with 38 points in their opener in the WNBA playoffs, coach Cheryl Reeve implored Collier's teammates to bring even more intensity for the second game of the series.

“I told the team before the game: ‘Look, Phee’s not going to get 38 tonight,'” Reeve said, reflecting later on the first-round sweep of Phoenix.

As Collier was subbed out with that win in Game 2 in hand, the four-time All-Star and favorite for the Defensive Player of the Year award needled Reeve about that pregame warning by reminding her coach that, technically, she was right.

Collier topped herself with 42 points on Wednesday, helping the Lynx hit the 100-point mark for the second straight game and setting an all-time league record with 80 points in two consecutive postseason games. She tied Breanna Stewart and Angel McCoughtry for the WNBA single playoff game scoring record.

“She’s insane. Y’all have been watching? She’s been going crazy. She’s making history, man,” Lynx point guard Courtney Williams said. “I'm just excited I can be a part of it, man. I'm here to help her, and whatever she needs we're here to do it.”

When Minnesota hosts Connecticut on Sunday night at Target Center in Game 1 of the best-of-five semifinals, Collier will of course be the driving force for this new-era Lynx squad that's looking to bring the franchise a fifth title. The Sun have never won a championship.

“Phee just has the ability to each game know what it is she’s going to get and how she’s going to get it. She’s like an amoeba,” Reeve said. “If they’re going to let her be in the paint, then she’s going to find herself in the paint, she’s going to screen, she’s going to roll. If the paint’s going to be more difficult, she understands how she’s going to play in movement and by shooting the ‘3’ well.”

Collier was a starter for Team USA's gold medal team at the Paris Olympics, but not the go-to star. She was one of only five players in the league who averaged 20-plus points per game this season, but she can be sometimes overlooked by not being on one of the league's most-hyped super teams.

Perhaps that's because Collier doesn't seek more of the spotlight.

“I'm just playing for my team and trying to win a game,” said Collier, who's in her sixth year with the Lynx. “I'm trying to take advantage of what the other team is giving me.”

Breaking records?

“That stuff is really cool, but if you're not winning it doesn't matter,” Collier said. “That stuff just comes from really great teammates.”

Reeve and the Lynx had to start over after the run to championships in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017 with the previous core led by Seimone Augustus, Maya Moore and Lindsay Whalen. They took a step by making the playoffs last year, losing to the Sun in three games.

“This team’s different,” Reeve said. “We’re a far better offensive team than last year’s team. I go back sometimes and watch that and go, ‘How? How were we 40 minutes from being in the semifinals?’”

Four-time All-Star Kayla McBride is a proven offensive threat who complements Collier well. Bridget Carleton has given the Lynx a legitimate outside shooting threat. Late-blooming center Alanna Smith had a breakout season after arriving as a free agent. Williams, another newcomer, provided a veteran presence as the primary ball distributor and helped the Lynx lead the league in assists.

They'll have to keep up the crisp ball movement that fueled the sweep of the Mercury to continue to have success against the Sun, who were the WNBA's best defensive team this season. The Lynx were second.

The homecourt advantage in the series is with Minnesota, thanks to a 30-foot 3-pointer Carleton made with 3.4 seconds left in a 78-76 victory at Connecticut on Sept. 17 that clinched the second seed. Reeve predicted a “knockdown, drag-out" series with much less room to operate for Collier and her primary scorers, unlike against defense-challenged Phoenix.

The Sun have a defense-first identity, but they're a balanced team that got deeper by the midseason addition of Marina Mabrey to complement postseason master Alyssa Thomas. Mabrey started for the injured Tyasha Harris in the Game 2 victory over Indiana that completed a first-round sweep of Caitlin Clark and the Fever.

“We knew she was going to be a difference-maker for us,” Thomas said. “That's part of the reason why we went out and got her. She’s a different guard for us that can create and is not scared of the moment.”

AP Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg contributed from Uncasville, Conn.

AP WNBA:

Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas (25) celebrates a basket while being fouled during the second half in Game 2 of a first-round WNBA basketball playoff series against the Indiana Fever, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas reacts during the second half in Game 2 of a first-round WNBA basketball playoff series against the Indiana Fever, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Uncasville, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier celebrates her three-point basket against the Phoenix Mercury in the fourth quarter of Game 2 of a WNBA basketball first-round playoff game Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams (10) and forward Napheesa Collier (24) celebrate the win against the Phoenix Mercury after Game 2 of a WNBA basketball first-round playoff game Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24) works around Phoenix Mercury forward Monique Billings, left, in the first quarter of Game 2 of a WNBA basketball first-round playoff game Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn)

MONTREAL (AP) — Scottie Scheffler finished with two birdie putts for an American win, and Patrick Cantlay made two big birdies to assure another one Saturday in the Presidents Cup as the United States, fresh off being shut out, bounced back for an 8-6 lead.

Still to come on a day when play was delayed by thick fog at Royal Montreal were four matches of foursomes, with the International team desperate to not lose any more ground.

International captain Mike Weir sent out his same teams he used in fourballs, meaning four players — Jason Day, Min Woo Lee, Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Byeong Hun An — sat out all of Saturday.

Tom Kim again was an emotional spark for the Internationals, teaming with Si Woo Kim for the lone fourballs win in the morning. They birdied the first two holes and never trailed in beating Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley and Wyndham Clark, 4 and 3.

Tony Finau and Xander Schauffele never trailed in a 3-and-2 win over the Canadian duo of Corey Conners and Mackenzie Hughes.

The U.S. lead came down to the other two matches, both with key moments.

Collin Morikawa, playing with Scheffler, made a 40-foot birdie on No. 2. Adam Scott answered with a 4-iron to 3 feet for birdie on No. 3. They halved the next eight holes until the Americans took the lead with a birdie on the par-5 12th.

They looked to go 2 up on the 14th until a stunning turn of events. Taylor Pendrith drove into the water. Scott was 25 feet away after a poor wedge, while Morikawa stuffed his shot into 5 feet. Scott made birdie, Morikawa missed and the match was all square.

Pendrith looked to give the Internationals their first lead with an approach into 4 feet on the next hole. But he missed the birdie putt, and Scheffler took over from there. The world's No. 1 player made an 8-foot birdie putt on the 16th for a 1-up lead, and Scheffler closed out the match with a 15-foot birdie putt from just short of the green.

In the anchor match, Sungjae Im three times matched birdies against Cantlay and Sam Burns to keep the match from getting out of hand. Cantlay chipped in for eagle on the 12th for a 2-up lead. And then Im and Hideki Matsuyama — mostly Im — tried to rally.

Im hit to 6 feet on the 15th, only for Cantlay to make from 25 feet. Im was in tight again on the 16th and Cantlay poured in his putt from 18 feet. Instead of the match being all square with two to play, the Americans were dormie and closed out the match when Matsuyama missed an 8-foot birdie attempt.

It already has been an unusual week, the first time in any professional cup — Ryder, Presidents or Solheim — that teams took turns pitching shutouts. The Americans opened 5-0 in fourballs, the Internationals responded with 5-0 in foursomes.

And then Saturday's morning session was halted 90 minutes by fog so thick players could not see the landing zone in the fairway. The sun finally broke through, and the afternoon was a race against time to finish before Sunday singles.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

United States team member Patrick Cantlay plays a shot on the sixth hole during the third round at the Presidents Cup golf tournament at Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press via AP)

International team members Tom Kim, right, celebrates with partner Si Woo Kim, both of South Korea, after winning the 12th hole during the third round at the Presidents Cup golf tournament at Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP)

Adam Scott, left, of Australia, and Taylor Pendrith, of Canada, look on at the first green during third round four-ball play at the Presidents Cup golf tournament at Royal Montreal Golf Club, in Montreal, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Graham Hughes /The Canadian Press via AP)

United States team member Scottie Scheffler, right, shakes hands with partner Collin Morikawa after making a putt on the 15th hole during the third round at the Presidents Cup golf tournament at Royal Montreal Golf Club in Montreal Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)