Game 1 of the WNBA Finals is over, and it was a certified classic. The New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx put on a show in New York in an overtime thriller that has WNBA fans ready for more. The Minnesota Lynx won in a two-point overtime thriller. As the WNBA Finals schedule continues, let’s look at the game odds and make some Lynx vs Liberty predictions.
WNBA Finals Betting: Lynx vs Liberty Game 2 Odds
*All Lynx vs Liberty odds are courtesy of FanDuel.com*
A Wild Game 1
The Liberty seemed to have control of Game 1 from the start. They grabbed a 39-21 lead in the second quarter and maintained a 12-point advantage late in the fourth quarter. The big three of Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones, and Sabrina Ionescu were solid but weren’t able to hold onto their lead late. Stewart had 18 points on a rough night shooting, 6-of-21. Ionescu was also inefficient from the field, shooting 8-of-26 for 19 points. Jones, the leading scorer for the Liberty, had 24 points and 10 rebounds on 9-of-14 shooting.
#WNBA
Down 3 with 5 seconds left, and Courtney Williams on the road gets a 4 point play on the 2nd attempt, so cold with it 😤 🏀 #LynxRecognize #WNBAFinalspic.twitter.com/OTnEX5rjOt— Global Utopia Sports (@GL8BAL_SPORTS) October 11, 2024
The comeback seemed complete until a controversial foul call put Stewart on the line with an opportunity to win the game. Stewart split the free throws, and the game went into overtime.
The overtime period started slowly for both teams, but the Lynx eventually took control as New York missed its first six shots. Jones finally broke the drought with a three-pointer, and Ionescu’s backcourt steal tied the game at 93-93. However, Napheesa Collier’s clutch jumper with 8.8 seconds remaining was the deciding basket. Stewart had a chance to tie the game at the buzzer, but her layup attempt fell short.
Entering Thursday, WNBA teams were 0-183 in the playoffs when trailing by 15+ in the final five minutes of regulation 😳
Then, the Lynx happened 🔥 pic.twitter.com/exmXINKVY3
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 11, 2024
Lynx vs Liberty Odds and Betting History
The Lynx vs Liberty odds for Game 1 had the Lynx as +6 underdogs. The predicted total for the game was set at 160.5. The Lynx covered, and the total went over. Now, the odds for Game 2 again have the Liberty as -7.5 favorites. They are -340 to win the game straight up, and the Lynx are +260 to get another road upset win. The total for the game is set at 162.5.
These teams have now played five times in 2024. The Lynx have won four of the five matchups, and they have covered four of the five games as well. The total has gone over three times and under twice.
The game deciding shot by Napheesa Collier is NASTY 😈
THE @minnesotalynx TAKE GAME 1 OF THE #WNBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV WITH A FINAL SCORE OF 95-93 pic.twitter.com/4DO4NXLoG5
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 11, 2024
Lynx vs. Liberty Predictions
After a tight Game 1, it is clear this series could go either way. The Liberty will come into Game 2 with some urgency, as their Game 1 meltdown has officially put them on the ropes. Not surprisingly, oddsmakers seem to believe they will win Game 2 by a larger margin than their predicted Game 1 win. Our Lynx vs Liberty prediction is that the Liberty will win Game 2, but it will be closer than expected. The spread of +7.5 for the Lynx looks mighty interesting, especially factoring in their previous five matches against the Liberty.
