Minnesota Lynx vs. New York Liberty Prediction and Tips for October 20, 2024

Kathleen William October 21, 2024

It's only fitting that after arguably the most successful season in WNBA history, the league final would go the distance, perhaps the most entertaining final in league history. On Friday night, the host Minnesota Lynx forced Game 5 in New York with a thrilling 82-80 victory over the Liberty. The title will be on the line on Sunday evening starting at 8:00 p.m. EST.

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Minnesota forces game five

The Minnesota Lynx are not dead after a dramatic 82-80 win on Friday night, forcing a fifth and deciding game for the WNBA title. The Lynx and Liberty battled throughout, with neither team holding a lead of more than four points. With 18 seconds left, the Lynx had possession and a chance to take the lead. After a missed shot by Courtney Williams, Bridget Carleton deflected the rebound and was fouled. With two seconds left, she sank two free throws. Liberty's last-second attempt missed and the celebration continued. Kayla McBride led the way with 19 points while Napheesa Collier added 14 points and 9 rebounds. All five starters finished in double figures for the Lynx.

“I think it's emblematic of the year she's had and how important she's been to the team,” Minnesota head coach Cheryl Reeve said of Carleton, who finished the game with 12 points and four rebounds completed. “She is a player who plays fast, that was clear. You can always count on her to be there for you.”

Everything will be on the line for the Lynx and Liberty on Sunday afternoon in Brooklyn. The series is tied at two games apiece and after four games each team knows each other well enough that strategy is off the table. The Lynx survived Friday night thanks to solid play from the starting lineup and a renewed effort from their bench. One game after posting a -36 as a unit, the Lynx bench finished with a +3 and gave the team meaningful minutes. The Lynx were aggressive and got to the free throw line 20 times in the game, adding to their point total and scoring over 80 points for the first time since the first game. It will be all hands on deck on Sunday as they seek their fourth WNBA title.

Freedom home for a title

The New York Liberty came so close to winning their first-ever WNBA title on Friday night, but fell short late and had to drop Game 5 on Sunday at Barclays Center. The Liberty nearly won despite poor shooting nights from their two best players, Sabrina Ionescu and Breanna Stewart. The pair combined to score just 10 of 36 goals in the game, each missing a shot in the final minute that could have put the Liberty ahead. Still, they were spot on and the Liberty must be confident they can get the job done at home on Sunday.

“We bounce back really, really well after a loss and make sure everyone is on the same page going forward,” Stewart said. “There will be momentum shifts in a series in the playoffs. There were momentum shifts in the game tonight.”

All the pressure will fall squarely on Liberty's shoulders on Sunday. They will try to finally overcome the crisis and win their first title, in front of a sell-out home crowd. The Liberty need to be confident that Stewart and Ionescu will come back with big games. They will also need much better use from their bench in game five after the bench posted a -13 and was used sparingly in game four. Still, it will be the Liberty's elite starting lineup that will have to carry them to the title.

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Best bets for Minnesota Lynx vs. New York Liberty

Side bet for the entire game

Insider status:

Evaluation:

The WNBA couldn't ask for more before the showdown in game five on Sunday. They have one of the cornerstone franchises looking to win their first title at home after having the best season in league history from a popularity perspective. Now it's just a matter of game. The Lynx survived Game 4 thanks to tough interior play and poor shooting nights from the Liberty's two stars. Still, it took two free throws with two seconds left to secure the win. Once again, the Liberty were able to control the tempo for much of the game, but poor shooting plagued them. On Sunday, I'm betting on the usual nights from Ionescu and Stewart, especially Stewart, who has played at an MVP level throughout the series. The Liberty, and Stewart in particular, continue to do a great job defending Collier in the series. She scored just 14 points in the fourth game, but was saved by a complete scoring effort from Minnesota's starting five. This defense will continue in the fifth game and the Liberty will pull away in the fourth quarter and cap a historic season with their first title.

Take the Liberty -5.5

Prediction: New York -5.5

Overall selection for the entire game

Insider status:

Evaluation:

The Liberty have lost each of the two games in this series. They have no interest in a shootout with the Lynx and will look to control the tempo and limit shooting opportunities on Sunday. Nerves also play a role, as every possession of the ball in a crucial game represents an enormous strain. It will be a physical, slow game on Sunday, and I expect the Liberty to pull away in the fourth quarter and hold the Lynx under 80 points.

Take the under.

Prediction: Below 157.5

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Mark Ruelle, “Mark Ruelle”

Mark has been a sports fan since childhood. He is also an avid supporter of sports analysis and has used it in his own betting analysis for over two decades. Now we have Mark on our team here at RakeTech US. He has degrees in marketing, broadcasting and English and uses this vast range of resources to analyze and analyze fixtures. Mark will provide you with a wide range of statistics to consider and provide a clear opinion on each matchup he covers. Please follow him daily for up-to-date analysis of all major matches.

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