After exciting finishes for the first games, the Lynx and Sparks will try to break the series tie in an exciting Game 3.

After exciting finishes in the first two games of 2017’s WNBA Finals showdown, the Los Angeles Sparks and Minnesota Lynx will play a pivotal Game 3 in the best-of-five series Friday night at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The first two games were determined in the final seconds, making this game all the more exciting. You can watch the game live on ESPN2 (live stream) starting at 9 p.m. ET.

The ends of Game 1 and Game 2 were complete opposites. Game 1 ended in a point-for-point shootout between both teams. The lead changed four times within the game’s final 10 seconds until finally, Chelsea Gray put the nail in the coffin with a buzzer-beating shot that gave the Sparks the win.

Game 2 ended with a series of huge defensive stops. The Sparks had a chance to hold the ball for a last-second buzzer-beater. However, the Lynx perfectly read the inbound play to result in a five-second turnover. Each team shared another turnover a piece, allowing no one to score a basket and giving the victory to the Lynx.

Now the question is how will each team respond on Friday.

Will league MVP Sylvia Fowles, who broke the record for most rebounds in a finals game, dominate the paint in yet another record-breaking performance? Lindsay Whalen and Maya Moore, who are also both coming off strong performances in both Game 1 and Game 2, could also easily have breakout performances in Game 3. Or will the Sparks correct their poor first-half performance in Game 2 and come out on fire on their home court in Game 3? Only a few hours to wait until the world finds out.

Time, TV Channel, and streaming info

• Time: 9 p.m. ET
• Location: Staples Center, Los Angeles, Calif.
• TV: ESPN2
• Live stream: WatchESPN
• Odds: Los Angeles is favored by 3.5

Sparks vs. Lynx news

Fowles’ record-setting rebounding in Game 2 could set the tone for Game 3:

“Multiple players responded for Minnesota; however, the MVP was a catalyst to the team snagging the victory to even the series up. Yet, at the end of the day, there is another game on Friday, which Fowles already has her mind on.”

Are Candace Parker’s ankle injuries during warm-ups affecting her game?

“It wasn’t Candace Parker’s sprained ankle, it wasn’t cold shooting from LA to start the game, and it wasn’t a particular player’s heroics or lack thereof that defined Game 2 (although Sylvia Fowles is unstoppable).”

In this series, double-digit leads mean nothing:

“Early on it looked as if we were on our way to yet another blowout win by the Lynx to even the finals at a game apiece, after Minnesota took Game 2 in last year’s finals against these same Sparks by 19. The Sparks began this year’s finals on a 12-0 run, but it was the Lynx’s turn to get off to a hot start in Game 2.”

Fowles and Parker have guarded each other since the ‘90s.

Dating back all the way to the age of 13, superstars Parker and Fowles have been each other’s opponents. Back when they were merely playing AAU, to facing off in yet another WNBA Finals, Fowles and Parker have been chosen to guard each other matchup after matchup.

Not only have they guarded each other over the past couple of games, the level of their games is almost even. Parker, who went No. 1 in the WNBA draft, was followed by Fowles who was chosen at No. 2 in the 2008 draft.

Sparks vs. Lynx prediction:

It is almost impossible to decide who will come out victorious in Game 3 of this finals series. However, if one must decide, the Sparks having home-court advantage during Game 3 gives them the winning edge. Just as Minnesota played with a sense of urgency and vengeance after taking a tough loss in Game 1, it can be expected that the Sparks will possess some of those same qualities come Friday night.