Based on the opening 17 minutes, a final flurry and a near record-scoring night by their best player should not have been needed to save the Lynx from a devastating defeat. But it was. With the shot clock almost to zero, Bridget Carleton drained a 3-pointer with 39 seconds left for a six-point lead, Alanna Smith had a pair of late blocks, and the Lynx held off the Phoenix Mercury 102-95 on Sunday in Game 1 of the best-of-three, opening-round WNBA playoff series. “It’s the epitome of what a series is and what this series will be, which is the game and the series are not won in the first five minutes, not won in the first quarter, not won in the third quarter. It’s 120 minutes,” coach Cheryl Reeve said. “This is what playoff basketball is.” Game 2 is 8:30 p.m. Wednesday back at Target Center. If necessary, a deciding Game 3 would be Friday in Phoenix. Minnesota is the second seed; Phoenix is No. 7. “We’ve talked a lot about how it’s not going to be easy, we’re in the playoffs, everyone is fighting for their lives,” said Napheesa Collier, who scored 23 of her career-high 38 points in the first half. Her total is two points shy of the franchise playoff record set by Maya Moore against Phoenix in 2015. Collier’s 13 made free throws tie Seimone Augustus for most in a postseason game. “My teammates just got me a lot of easy shots,” Collier said. The league’s top assist team, Minnesota had helpers on 30 of 34 baskets. The Lynx led by 23 midway through the second quarter before becoming sluggish from the field and uncharacteristic in its own end. “There was a lot of frustration along the way, really starting with 3 minutes to go in the second quarter running through the rest of the game,” Reeve said. Down 56-42 at halftime, Kahleah Copper, Natasha Cloud and Diana Taurasi began heating up from deep. Phoenix controlled the third quarter, outscoring cold-shooting Minnesota 27-21 to get within eight heading to the fourth. The heat stayed on with the Mercury using an 17-8 run for an 86-85 lead — its first since 4-2 — with 4:44 to play. A layup by Cloud made it 92-91 Phoenix with 2:06 left. “We’re expected to lose, so just go out there and prove,” Cloud said of her team’s mindset. She led the Mercury with 33 points. While many of the 8,524 in attendance were nervous, the Lynx remained focused. “When we get in those situations, just staying calm and executing what we have to do at the other end, but getting stops when we come back on defense,” Collier said. Courtney Williams fed Myisha Hines-Allen for a basket, Williams rebounded a Cloud miss, and two Collier free throws put the Lynx up 95-92. Smith blocked a Cloud layup on the next Mercury possession, and added another after Carleton’s clutch try. “BC is always doing what’s needed for the team. It’s really fun when she makes those huge daggers for us,” Collier said. Kayla McBride sank four free throws in the final 22.4 seconds and the Lynx could exhale. She finished with 20 points. “Our sense of urgency should be there the entire time. It’s playoffs,” McBride said. Taurasi made five 3-pointers amongst her 21 points. Although the 20-year veteran has not announced her future plans, there has been more recent noise about this season being it for the 42 year old. Collier gave kudos to how great a player Taurasi has been throughout college, the pros and representing the United States before slyly smiling. “Hopefully, we can end her career on Wednesday.” Related Articles Minnesota Lynx | Lynx credit chemistry with return to WNBA championship contention Minnesota Lynx | Lynx rest Collier, McBride in season finale and lost 68-51 to last-place Sparks Minnesota Lynx | Carleton’s mega three wins No. 2 playoff seed for Lynx Minnesota Lynx | Lynx top New York in hopes of getting top overall playoff seed Minnesota Lynx | Lynx make it five straight wins by beating Chicago 83-66