The New York Liberty and the Chicago Sky were tied at one game apiece. There is a delay of1:45.
In the first quarter of the Sky's 100-62 victory over the New York Liberty on Saturday, a double-digit scoring performance from Kahleah Copper alleviated any concerns about her ankle injury.
The 38 point win is the largest margin of victory in the history of the playoffs, and will force a decisive Game 3 on Tuesday.
After the Liberty pulled off a fourth quarter comeback to win Game 1 on the road, the Sky responded with a dominating performance to even the series. The Bulls scored 100 points in a playoff game for the fourth time in franchise history.
The Sky lost Game 1 and it was a wake-up call. It woke us up and we shouldn't have had it.
We came in with a different mindset. In the playoffs, what happened in the regular season wasn't going to happen. I think you saw a different team tonight because we took it up another level.
The start of Saturday's game helped Chicago take control from the outset. She hit a 3-pointer for the game's opening basket. In the first quarter, Copper matched her largest scoring total of the season, finishing with 10 points.
The health of Copper was in question after she left the end of practice with a non-contact ankle injury. Sky coach James Wade said before Saturday's game that she was fine, despite the incident.
Wade said after the game that she came out aggressively. She came out and let everyone know that she's still Copper, because I think the world was put upside down yesterday.
I was upset about the loss but I think that's me every game. We lost at home in front of our crowd who showed up consistently and gave us everything, so I had a chip on my shoulders. It was important that we responded.
The Sky put a lot of defensive pressure on theLiberty.
Chicago forced 13 New York turnovers in the first half. The Sky forced 14 steals, one short of a franchise record for steals in a playoff game, and they dominated the Liberty in every facet of the game.
There were only two players in New York who finished in double figures. The Liberty star was held to seven points on 3-for-5 shooting with as many turnovers as assists.
In Game 2, the Sky did a better job of sending double-teams, limiting New York to 1-for-8 shooting (0-of-2 on 3s) for two points and two turnovers, compared to 6-for-12 with 15 points and no turnovers.
Sandy Brondello said that championship teams respond the same way. Through a lack of ball movement, our turnovers were silly. I didn't believe we played as a team.
Since last year's pair of single elimination games they won en route to the title, Chicago has won three in a row. The Sky will have to win on the road Tuesday in order to get to the semifinals.
The team still has one more game. I wish the best team victory.
It doesn't matter where we play if we play like that. It's possible to play on the moon, but we have to be who we are. Everything will be dictated by that.
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