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Connecticut Sun beat Mystics 90-86, force WNBA Finals Game 5

UNCASVILLE, CT - OCTOBER 8: Jasmine Thomas #5 of Connecticut Sun drives to the basket against the Washington Mystics during Game Four of the 2019 WNBA Finals on October 8, 2019 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
UNCASVILLE, CT - OCTOBER 8: Jasmine Thomas #5 of Connecticut Sun drives to the basket against the Washington Mystics during Game Four of the 2019 WNBA Finals on October 8, 2019 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)

Connecticut Sun held off a Washington Mystics comeback to force a Game 5 in the 2019 WNBA Finals.

The decisive game will be played on Thursday at 8 p.m. on ESPN2. No matter the winner, one franchise will win its first WNBA championship.

Alyssa Thomas sealed the thrilling 90-86 Sun win with freethrows, ending the night with 17 points, 11 assists, 8 rebounds and shot 9-for-10 from the free-throw line.

“That’s what I do,” Thomas said in a post-game interview with Holly Rowe. “I’m trying to win a championship. This is a huge game for us, it’s about stepping up and being confident.”

For the Sun, Jonquel Jones had 18 points and 13 rebounds, Jasmine Thomas brought in 14 points and 5 assists, Courtney Williams added 16 points while Shekinna Stricklen contributed in 15.

After going into halftime down 16, the Mystics pitched a third-quarter comeback, and the game was tied at 68 to start the fourth. The Sun held them off.

“We just needed to get back to what we did in the first quarter,” Thomas said. “It was just about staying calm and doing what we do.”

For the Mystics, Elena Delle Donne was held to 11 points and were led by Aerial Powers with 15 points. Emma Meesseman had 12 points and Kristi Toliver added 7. Toliver went scoreless in the first half and Meesseman had two points in the first half. Neither Meesseman nor Delle Donne had good or many touches in the closing possessions of the game.

The Sun came out of the locker room on fire, and the Mystics flat, and Connecticut went up 32-17 after the first quarter. So far this series, when either team scored 17 points in the first quarter during this series, they lost.

When Rowe asked Thomas what Connecticut needs to do to be successful on Thursday, Thomas said, “Coming out in the first quarter with the same energy we had today.”

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