UNCASVILLE, Conn. — The cheers rained down seemingly as often for defensive stops as they did for made baskets. The Connecticut Sun would expect nothing less.
Their 92-82 Game 4 victory over the Minnesota Lynx began with forward DeWanna Bonner forcing a steal on the Sun’s first defensive possession. It featured roars for fouls drawn by Alyssa Thomas, deflections caused by DiJonai Carrington and even timely 3s from Marina Mabrey and Ty Harris. There were more of those than had been all series long. Harris, in her return to the starting lineup, finished with a team-high and career playoff-high 20 points.
Sunday’s victory might not have been an offensive clinic by any means. But at this juncture in the season, Sun coach Stephanie White will trade aesthetics for victories.
“Obviously, there’s a sense of urgency,” she said. “You got to play like you were desperate.”
For a while, though, it appeared that Connecticut’s season might end again in the semifinals. The Sun trailed by nine after the first quarter and by seven at halftime. Minnesota star Napheesa Collier was scoring in a variety of ways — on 3-pointers, in the mid-range and with a baseline-spin blowby past Thomas on one particular possession.
Collier entered Game 4 averaging 26.8 points and 8.6 rebounds this…
