Sylvia Fowles returns to form, dominates boards for Lynx

— -- LOS ANGELES -- After giving up 11 offensive rebounds and losing by an uncharacteristic 17-point margin in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals, the Lynx felt like their identity had been stolen.

Minnesota simply isn't accustomed to losing the battle on the boards.

But in an elimination game with the WNBA championship on the line Sunday, the Lynx turned to defensive anchor Sylvia Fowles to steer the team back to rebounding supremacy.

Led by Fowles' game-high 13 rebounds, the Lynx dominated the glass and beat Los Angeles 85-79 to force a decisive Game 5 on Thursday (ESPN2, 8 p.m. ET) in Minnesota.

"Rebounding is our identity," said Fowles, who helped the Lynx outrebound the Sparks 41-25. "If we want to win on the road, that's something that we have to do."

Fowles struggled mightily in Friday's Game 3, posting a career-low four rebounds as Los Angeles hauled in 11 offensive boards.

"After Game 3, we kept it at the top of our minds that four rebounds from us bigs wasn't enough," Fowles said. "We just tried to go out there and assert ourselves better."

Fowles finished Sunday's season-saving victory with her fourth double-double in seven games, adding 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting.

Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve said Fowles' hustle plays on the glass were huge. The Lynx created 12 second-chance opportunities off 14 offensive rebounds, six of which were grabbed by the 6-foot-6 post.

"Anybody that understands what it takes to win games, you know that rebounding is at the top of the list," Reeve said. "It's possessions, and so we got huge effort from Sylvia Fowles."

Minnesota's rebounding margin Sunday was particularly impressive given the absence of forward Rebekkah Brunson, who after being whistled for three fouls in the first quarter was used sparingly by Reeve for the rest of the game. Brunson, who was the team's second-leading rebounder behind Fowles at 7.3 boards per game during the regular season, finished with just two rebounds in 17 minutes.

Minnesota made up for Brunson's absence collectively, the majority of the production being spread amongst the other four Lynx starters. For the second time this postseason, the first not including Brunson, four Lynx starters totaled at least six boards, including a playoff-high six rebounds from veteran guard Lindsay Whalen, seven rebounds from Seimone Augustus and nine rebounds from Maya Moore.

"I think everybody wants to come in and own the boards," said Moore, who scored a game-high 31 points. "Collectively, as a team, we have to help Syl out because she creates so many opportunities for us by being in there. We appreciate the heck out of her."

Augustus said the Lynx expect the same level of production from Fowles in Thursday's winner-take-all Game 5. It's a level of expectation that she says Fowles has met all season.

"We expect the world from her, and tonight she came through," Augustus said. "We took advantage of trying to get the boards up, Syl had six offensive boards tonight, got us some extra possessions. If we continue down that path, I think we'll be fine."