Clan-Members » ith the first leg of their

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The Minnesota Lynx rushed out to another big lead Friday night. And every time the Phoenix Mercury began to chip away, Maya Moore pushed them aside.Moore scored 26 points, all in the first three quarters, and the defending WNBA champion Lynx beat the Mercury 96-86 on Friday night to take a 2-0 lead in the semifinal series.Coming off a record-setting 113-point outburst in Game 1, Minnesota shot 61 percent in the first quarter and took a 35-24 lead. Moore scored 12 points in a three-minute flurry to close the quarter.Shes a very difficult person to guard because you cant necessarily script what shes going to do, said Minnesotas Cheryl Reeve, honored as the WNBA coach of the year Friday. Mayas got a good feel for the game in terms of moving without the basketball.Lindsay Whalen scored 12 of her 16 points in the fourth quarter for Minnesota, playing at the Xcel Energy Center -- home of the NHLs Minnesota Wild -- for the second straight game because of a scheduling conflict at the Target Center in Minneapolis.The Lynx missed their first five shots of the second quarter, but Moore stole an outlet pass and hit a 3-pointer to push Minnesotas lead to 12.Phoenix cut it to 63-57 midway through the third quarter. Moore answered with one of her four 3-pointers on the night and the Mercury didnt come within six again until the final 30 seconds.In the end, the Mercury paid for their poor first quarter.To let them score 35 points, that was the ballgame, Phoenix coach Sandy Brondello said. You cant play with the Lynx for 30 minutes. Theyre too good of a team.Still, with Moores scoreless fourth quarter fresh in her mind, Reeve said the Lynx need more out of their former league MVP.I know that the stat line says she was really, really good, but I think overall Maya Moore is a better player that what we saw tonight, Reeve said.Rebekkah Brunson added 13 points and 11 rebounds, and Sylvia Fowles had 14 points and nine rebounds for the top-seeded Lynx. Fowles was honored Friday as the leagues defensive player of the year.Diana Taurasi had 31 points for the eighth-seeded Mercury. Penny Taylor added 16, and Marta Xargay had 10.We did a much better job of matching their intensity and their toughness, Taurasi said. Unfortunately, we didnt bring it in the first quarter and that was probably the difference.FOUL TROUBLEThe teams combined for 54 fouls, including 17 in the first quarter. Phoenix center Britney Griner was especially hampered by the barrage of whistles. She picked up two fouls in the first 1:41 and was pulled from the game. Griner returned with 3:23 to go in the first quarter, but picked up her third foul with 50.8 seconds left in the quarter. She played just 4:13 in the first half.The offenses took advantage of the numerous trips to the line. The teams combined to make their first 25 free throws and made 63 of 68 from the line on the night.TIP-INSMercury: Center Kelsey Bone missed the game because of a strained left elbow. She was injured in the second half in Game 1 on Wednesday night. ... The Mercury have played four consecutive road playoff games. They won the first two, single-elimination games at Indiana and New York, before losing two straight in Minnesota.Lynx: Minnesota has won its first playoff game in each of the last six seasons. ... Jia Perkins had 12 points. ... Minnesota played without guard Anna Cruz and center Janel McCarville, both sidelined with back injuries.UP NEXTGame 3 is Sunday in Phoenix. Dallas Mavericks Jerseys . Pedro scored from a pass by Lionel Messi in the 33rd minute and added two more goals in the 47th and 72nd after Valdes saved his second penalty in four days following his stop in Wednesdays 4-0 over Ajax in the Champions League. Steve Nash Mavericks Jersey .C. -- Chris Thorburn thinks one of the reasons the Winnipeg Jets have been successful under new coach Paul Maurice is that theyre playing together as a team. http://www.mavericksteamofficial.info/luka-doncic-mavericks-jersey/ . -- If Henry Burris has his way, he will be the starting quarterback to lead the Hamilton Tiger-Cats back to the Grey Cup next year. Dirk Nowitzki Mavericks Jersey . A statement from the worlds top-ranked player says all checks "were satisfactory and showed positive evolution" regarding the injury, which contributed to his loss to Stanislas Wawrinka in the final in Melbourne. Jose Juan Barea Jersey .com) - Christian Ponder will get another chance to prove himself for the Minnesota Vikings, with head coach Leslie Frazier announcing Wednesday that the struggling quarterback will start this weekends game against the Green Bay Packers.Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp believes Saturdays clash with Tottenham will be like a cup final for their title-chasing opponents. With Leicester not playing until Sunday, Spurs have the chance to close the gap on the Premier League leaders to just two points with a win at Anfield, live on Sky Sports 1 HD.And Reds manager Klopp insists his side will be prepared for Tottenham to treat the clash like a must-win encounter. Were looking forward to a really, really important game for both sides, and maybe for Tottenham its something like a final, said Klopp.They need to win to put pressure on Leicester. Its not important for us to think about the situation of the other team, but I think on this occasion, it makes sense for us to think about it.We need to think about it in the sense that its like a cup final, so we have to be ready. Jurgen Klopp expects Tottenham to treat Saturdays encounter like a cup fina; The clash on Saturday Night Football will be the reverse fixture of Klopps first match in charge of Liverpool. That ended 0-0 at White Hart Lane, but the German is expecting a different type of game this weekend.Its a massive difference. I know much more about the players and the club. I know much more about everything, weve had an intensive time. The Tottenham game was really exciting for us, it was a good game, added Klopp.Now everyone knows how strong Tottenham are and its an important game for both sides. Liverpool v Tottenham is never a birthday party. It will be a hard fight. I watch football and I see the brilliant progress of Tottenham, the fantastic development of players. Klopps first game in charge of Liverpool came against Tottenham back in October Liverpool will follow this weekends Premier League clash with the first leg of their Europa League quarrter-final against Klopps former side Borussia Dortmund on Thursday.ddddddddddddThe Reds manager insists there is no concern over balancing the Premier League with the Europa League, and says the only game that matters is the one on Saturday.The two tournaments is not a problem for us. A lot of my players had three games this week, so thats always difficult, he added. After Saturday, then we have four days, its nothing to think about. The only game now is Tottenham. Klopp explains why Liverpool arent just focusing on the Europa League Klopp also revealed that striker Christian Benteke will not be able to play against Tottenham, while fellow Belgium international forward Divock Origi is struggling with a muscle problem.There is also concern over Roberto Firmino, who missed Liverpools defeat to Southampton back on March 20 with a hamstring injury and also had to withdraw from the Brazil squad for their 2018 World Cup qualifiers. Also See: Lallana wins PFA award Reds may play away from Anfield Lucas nearing Liverpool return Klopp upbeat on Reds chances ' ' '