Last night, the Seattle Storm took on the Chicago Sky in an NBA Finals rematch, making it the biggest basketball game of the year so far. The game was not only important for the standings, but it also marked the last game for the 2018 NBA champions. It was a game that was as close as you could ask for in a rivalry as intense as this one, with both teams trading blow for blow. In the end, the Storm managed to pull off the upset, knocking off the defending champions in what will surely go down as one of the biggest upsets in NBA history.
It was a game that was full of dramatic twists and exciting finishes, helping to make it the most popular game of the year to date. Not only that, but it was also the third-highest-rated game this year, according to ESPN. That’s pretty good for a game that was more than halfway through the second quarter.
It was a game that saw both teams use their home court to their advantage, with the Storm taking a slight 2-0 lead before the half. But it was the third quarter that really showed just how special this game was going to be, with both sides trading blows for blows, neither seemingly stronger than the other. The only thing that separated these teams was the ball and the desire to hit it more often than not. The Storm shot lights out in the third quarter, hitting 58% of their shots while also getting out-rebounded by the Sky 24-12. Things were looking grim for the defending champs as they trailed by just one point, before Taya Sircons and the rest of the Storm made a late run, pulling off the win in what was an iconic moment for the franchise. It was definitely one of the biggest upsets in NBA history.
Turning Point
The turning point of this game came in the third quarter, when the Storm started playing some serious defense. They continued to play good defense in the fourth quarter, holding the Sky to just 26 points and forcing 23 turnovers. This is when the game turned from a rout to a serious competition, with the teams trading baskets for baskets, as you’d expect in a rivalry of this magnitude. These are the sorts of games that the NBA was made for, what with all the close calls and crazy finishes.
It was all thanks to a combination of stellar defense and timely hitting from the floor, with the Storm hitting 14 of 19 shots from the floor, including 10 of 13 from beyond the arc. Allowing just 65 points was certainly a major factor in the outcome of this game, especially since the Sky were hitting 45% of their shots. But it was the defense that ultimately won this one, as the Storm held the Sky to just 26 points in the second half.
Key Stats
Here are some interesting stats to dive into if you want to see how exactly this game went down.
- The game was scoreless at the end of the first quarter.
- The Chicago Sky are now 0-3 in the finals
- The Seattle Storm are now 2-0 in the finals
- The game had 12 ties and 9 lead changes
- There were 23 lead changes in the game, which is the most in a playoff game since 1986.
- The Sky turned the ball over 23 times, which is the most in a playoff game since 1986
- The game had 7 overtimes
- The Storm went on a 27-9 run in the third quarter to take the lead.
- The game had 7 triple-digit scorers
The final score was 112-110, which is fairly accurate considering the drama that unfolded. It was certainly a battle between two titans, with both teams trading blow for blow, neither seemingly able to overpower the other. It was also one of the greatest games in recent memory, full of iconic moments and dramatic finishes that will be talked about for years to come.