Chicago Sky win Game 3 over Connecticut Sun 76-72 — and now can clinch the semifinal series Tuesday on the road

In a 76-72 win over the Connecticut Sun in Game 3 of the WNBA semifinals, the Chicago Sky had difficulty getting in rhythm.

The Sky, usually a strong 3-point shooting team, have had some difficulty getting shots to fall in the first two games of the series. They shot 35.3% from the field in Game 1, and then 50.8% from the field and 40% from three-point range in Game 2. Despite the noticeable jump, their shot selection is still an area for improvement.

“I think they’re fine. I think the first game we missed 14 wide-open threes. And they were open. I thought they were in rhythm,” Sky coach/GM James Wade said before Game 3 in Uncasville, Conn.

“Last game I thought we shot the ball pretty well. So if you go by game-to- game basis, and what have you done for me lately mentality, I think we’re fine. But we just have to continue to get the shots that we’re getting and not force them, and it’s just the bad shots we have to eliminate. And so we can do that.”

But they weren’t fine.

In the first half of Game 3, the Sky missed quite a few shots going 14-for-36 from the field and 4-of-14 from beyond the arc. It was more of the same in the second half and the usually reliable Allie Quigley struggled. Her shots just weren’t falling and she only made one 3-pointer.

The Sun, who flew right to Chicago after their first-round series win against the Dallas Wings, are home for the next game too after spending almost two weeks on the road. They came away with a Game 1 win at Wintrust Arena, but in Game 2, the Sky crowded the perimeter and swarmed the Sun in the paint, and Connecticut at times seemed visibly frustrated. The Sky was successful in combating the Sun’s size with speed. In Game 3, shots were elusive for the Connecticut Sun as well.

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Suns coach Curt Miller was heard saying “Any suggestions on pro players making a layup? Like honestly I’m gonna get fired because we can’t make a layup.”

Through two games in the semifinals, Candace Parker has been dominant and versatile in the way she affects the game. Parker came into today’s game averaging 20.5 points, 11 rebounds, 4.5 blocks and 2.5 steals in the series. In Game 3, she recorded 16 points and 11 rebounds, tying Tamika Catchings for first place with 27 WNBA playoff double-doubles.

The Sky now lead the best-of-five series 2-1 and can clinch with a Game 4 win at Mohegan Sun Arena on Tuesday (7 p.m., ESPN2).