Alanna Smith battles back injury to help Minnesota Lynx reach WNBA Finals

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — It wasn't always pretty, but Alanna Smith battled a back injury and made a big difference Friday night as a Minnesota Lynx tied the WNBA finals with a win against the New York Liberty.

Smith, Minnesota's 6-foot-4 center, fell heavily on his back in Minnesota's Game 3 loss on Wednesday. She returned to the game but was clearly in distress and her status for Game 4 on Friday was uncertain.

But when the starting lineups were announced, Smith was in her usual spot, exactly where she has been in 39 of Minnesota's 40 regular-season games this year.

The first results were anything but promising. Smith missed three layups in the first quarter and appeared hesitant against New York's Jonquel Jones and Nyara Sabally. But in the end, she gave the Lynx 30 minutes — up from her regular-season average of 26.5 — and her persistence paid off with 12 points, seven rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot.

Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve said that's what the team expected from Smith, who was named to the WNBA's all-defensive second team this year.

“Smith has been in those positions for us all season and we just value her ability to turn, get up and do what her team asked of her,” Reeve said. “It’s important that she’s on the floor for us.”

After Minnesota led by one at halftime, Smith opened the second half with a 3-pointer on Minnesota's first possession. She added a corner 3 that capped a 6-0 run by the Lynx and tied the game after they trailed by six midway through the third quarter.

Smith hit another crucial basket when Courtney Williams found her for an open layup, giving Minnesota a 74-72 lead. And she was an important part of a swarm defense that was helpful frustrate New York stars Breanna Stewart (5 for 21 from the floor, 0 for 4 on 3-pointers) and Sabrina Ionescu (5 for 15, 0 for 5 from beyond the arc).

“She’s constantly fighting (Jones) and JJ isn’t an easy task for anyone. And she's a little undersized and she fights, makes things as difficult as possible,” said Lynx forward Bridget Carleton, whose two free throws with two seconds left broke the 80-80 tie.

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