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Takeaways: Fowles and Zandalasini headline wire-to-wire Lynx win

By Mike Peden

Minnesota Lynx forward Maya Moore (23) greets Cecilia Zandalasini (9) as the team gathers on the bench in the second half of their game against the New York Liberty. Photo by Abe Booker III, Stratman Photography
Minnesota Lynx forward Maya Moore (23) greets Cecilia Zandalasini (9) as the team gathers on the bench in the second half of their game against the New York Liberty. Photo by Abe Booker III, Stratman Photography /
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The Joy of the Paint

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JUNE 16: Sylvia Fowles (34) of the Minnesota Lynx shoots the ball against the New York Liberty on June 16, 2018 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JUNE 16: Sylvia Fowles (34) of the Minnesota Lynx shoots the ball against the New York Liberty on June 16, 2018 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Minnesota Lynx took the inside track in their quest for resurgence. That’s not simply an adage to describe their victory. Minnesota attacked the lane almost at will, outscoring New York 42-22 in the paint. Such a discrepancy usually means a good night for Sylvia Fowles, and Saturday night was no exception. She converted her first six shot attempts and hit 10 of 13 for the game. The result? A healthy 25 points and nine rebounds.

“Our guards were doing a really good job on the perimeter, knocking down shots,” Fowles said. “It makes my job much easier when they’re moving the ball.”

Ball movement was indeed much better than previous games, even though the Lynx racked up 17 turnovers. However, there was a zero in that column next to Fowles’ name, a first for the 2018 season. In two meetings with the Liberty, Fowles has been charged with only one turnover, a contrast compared to her match-ups with other teams. Minnesota’s offense relies heavily on their decorated center, and if Fowles can sustain her grip on the ball, making moves in the paint will be much easier.

“I felt like, a lot of the time, I was in a rush. I had to get back and watch some video of myself and make sure I was just taking my time, because good things happen when I take my time,” she said.

When Fowles wasn’t scoring down low, Minnesota’s guards found plenty of lanes to drive through. Either way, New York had no answer.

Cecilia…breaking New York’s heart

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JUNE 16: Cecilia Zandalasini #9 of the Minnesota Lynx handles the ball against the New York Liberty on June 16, 2018 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JUNE 16: Cecilia Zandalasini #9 of the Minnesota Lynx handles the ball against the New York Liberty on June 16, 2018 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images) /

With Fowles anchoring the paint for the Lynx, Cecilia Zandalasini dazzled the crowd from outside. The second-year forward from Italy scored a career high 13 points and led the team in plus/minus with a rating of 21.

“On the offensive end, she can shoot that thing. She can shoot it and she’s a willing passer,” Moore said. “She has been working hard, it’s good to see it pay off in the game.”

Zandalasini’s work ethic was evident on a pair of key plays in the first half. At the end of the first quarter, following an Alexis Jones drive to the hoop, Zandalasini stole an inbound pass from the Liberty’s Kiah Stokes. With 2.1 seconds on the clock, Zandalasini squared up for a mid-range jumper to beat the buzzer. In the second, off a feed from Danielle Robinson, she hit a baseline jumper with 1.9 seconds to spare.

Zandalasini’s performance highlighted a productive night for Minnesota’s bench, a welcome sight with Seimone Augustus unable to play due to a hamstring injury.

“We were all so pumped,” said Lynx center Temi Fagbenle, who chipped in seven points. “You could see the confidence exuding from her.”

Entering the season, Minnesota’s reserves had little experience playing alongside each other, while Fagbenle and Zandalasini had seen limited action in the WNBA overall. With the Lynx core not getting younger, finding a go-to option off the bench is of paramount importance this year. With 11 and 13 points respectively over the last two games, Zandalasini could be emerging as that figure.

Keeping Charles outside

In basketball, you can’t stop the greats from scoring altogether, but a good defense can mitigate their impact. The Lynx did just that by keeping Liberty centerpiece Tina Charles away from the paint. She was held to 12 points on 5-of-14 shooting, and her fellow starters offered little relief, combining for 31 points.

Whenever Charles got close to the hoop, Fowles and the other Lynx posts sealed her off, forcing her into contested jumpers or three-point attempts. The defensive strategy isn’t revolutionary by any means, but it did contribute to Minnesota’s most complete work of the season.

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