WNBA Finals 2015: Minnesota Lynx vs. Indiana Fever Game 1 Score and Reaction

The Indiana Fever weren't intimidated by the Minnesota Lynx's 10-game postseason winning streak at home, and they weren't going to let a big performance from Maya Moore beat them either, defeating the Minnesota Lynx in Game 1 on Sunday, 75-69.

Briann January was brilliant for the Fever, finishing with 19 points, six assists, four rebounds and two steals before fouling out late in the fourth quarter. Marissa Coleman (16 points) and Tamika Catchings (12 points, six rebounds, four assists) also played a major role for the Fever, who stole home-court advantage in the series. 

January spoke about pulling out the win after the contest.

"We knew they were gonna go on runs," she said of the dangerous Lynx offense in her postgame interview on the ESPN broadcast. "They are a great team. But we knew if we stayed united we would have a chance to pull it out. I'm so proud of my team."  

It was an excellent performance from the entire Fever roster and coaching staff, but January was the key, per Debbie Antonelli of ESPN:

Moore was dominant, meanwhile, finishing with 27 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks, while Sylvia Fowles was superb (21 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks). But Indiana's excellent defense stymied the rest of the Lynx, as Minnesota didn't have another player reach double-digit points.

Be it nerves or just solid defense, the two teams limped out to a 10-10 tie after one quarter. Lynx star Moore was held to just four points in the frame, which was the lowest-scoring quarter in WNBA Finals history, according to the ESPN broadcast.

Moore start cooking in the second, however, including this pull-up jumper from beyond the arc, per the WNBA on Twitter:

Moore finished the half with 15 points, though she didn't get a lot of help. Indiana heated up, meanwhile, finishing the half on a 14-3 run capped by this wild final moment:

Briann January led Indiana with nine points, and she was primed to be a key figure throughout the game, according to basketball analyst LaChina Robinson:

Indiana extended its lead by a point in the third quarter, as January led the way with six points, and Tamika Catchings chipped in five. Moore was held to just four points in the frame, though Sylvia Fowles got hot, scoring eight points in the frame to keep Minnesota within striking distance as the teams went into the fourth with Indiana leading, 54-47.

Minnesota quickly pulled closer, as Moore led Minnesota on a 6-2 run to pull within three with just under eight minutes remaining. But a Shenise Johnson three-pointer quickly extended the lead back up to six for Indiana.

Johnson would hit another bucket the next time down the court, giving her 10 or more points in six of Indiana's seven postseason contests. Robinson has been excellent in this postseason for the Fever, per Robinson:

"

Shenise Johnson is playing her best @WNBA basketball, she can pass, defend, shoot, & very smart about when to do it, that's key #WNBAFinals

— LaChina Robinson (@Lives2Inspire) October 4, 2015"

But Minnesota rallied again, reeling off seven straight points behind Fowles' two layups and three free throws from Seimone Augustus. 

The back-and-forth quarter swung back Indiana's way, however, after Coleman sunk a three to regain the lead before putting home a layup to give Indiana a four-point edge.

That was a lead Indiana wouldn't relinquish, though Minnesota would cut the lead to three with 19 seconds remaining and the ball. But Fowles and Moore got mixed up on an inbound, and there was a scramble on the floor for the ball, resulting in a jump ball. Indiana got the ball on the ensuing jump ball off a Catchings steal, however, and hit its free throws to close out the contest. 

That was nothing new for Catchings, as John Schuhmann of NBA.com noted:

The series returns to Minnesota for Game 2 on Tuesday before heading to Indiana for the next two games (Game 4 if necessary). That makes Game 2 vital for the Lynx, who can't afford to go down 2-0 before heading to Indiana with the Fever needing just one win to clinch the title in that scenario. 

For the Lynx, someone other than Moore or Fowles will have to step up—namely Lindsay Whalen or Augustus, who each had tough games on Sunday. Moore is talented enough to put the offense on her back for long stretches, but she alone won't beat a talented, cohesive Indiana side.