Mohegan — The Connecticut Sun have made their intentions very clear during their WNBA playoff series against the Chicago Sky that they had to make games “messy” to win, using defense, rebound and physicality to keep the score low.

Connecticut got the mess it wanted in Game 3 on Sunday.

The problem was that the Sun’s offense — and ballhandling — were a bigger mess.

Connecticut couldn’t score with the game close with over six minutes left and went over four minutes without a point.

Chicago went on to beat the Sun at their own game, 76-72, to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series before 9,142 at Mohegan Sun Arena.

“I felt like we were being aggressive,” Connecticut’s DeWanna Bonner said. “Neither one of us would let each other score. We both were holding it down on defense, so I’m proud of my team for that. But we’ve got to put the ball in the basket.”

Game 4 is Tuesday night at the same venue (8 p.m.).

Candace Parker had 16 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks for the Sky and Copper had 15 points and 5 rebounds. Emma Meesseman added 13 points, 6 assists and 5 steals and Courtney Vandersloot had 12 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists.

“We know Connecticut is a physical team,” Parker said. “And we knew Game 3 was going to be a grind. What we try to do, we try to evolve and adjust to the circumstances and adjust to the game.

“We came out on top just because we were able to adjust to how physical the game was.”

Bonner led the Sun with 18 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals while Natisha Hiedeman scored 14. Brionna Jones and Courtney Williams both scored 12, too.

Third-seeded Connecticut was able to win Game 1 on Aug. 28, 68-63, with the Sky shooting 35.3%.

Second-seeded Chicago shot 37.1% on Sunday. The third-seeded Sun shot worse (36.8%). That including missing 25 of 41 shots 5-feet or closer to the basket, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

“You kept looking at the scoreboard (late in the fourth quarter) and it was still 66-64,” Sun head coach Curt Miller said, “and you just wondered if one team could have an offensive run. Like it was to the point where if a team could put back-to-back baskets together (they were) going to have all sorts of momentum.

“We had turnovers. I felt like we were rushed at times and we just couldn’t put together that offensive run when we needed it.”

Connecticut was better at some of the things it emphasizes, such as rebounding (46-35) and points in the paint (36-30).

The Sun helped doom themselves, however, by turning it over 17 times for 17 points.

Chicago had just 9 turnovers for 9 points.

“I think we got a little bit too sped up today,” Bonner said. “Especially in transition. I think that’s where we kind of turned the ball over (the most). There was one stretch where we turned it over like three-or-four times in a row.”

Bonner’s three gave Connecticut a 64-63 lead with 6 minutes, 30 seconds left in the game.

Copper answered with a three of her own 16 seconds later to put the Sky back ahead, 66-64.

The Sun didn’t score again until there was 1:48 remaining and still trailed, 68-66.

“We got them to miss 44 shots, right, and they only scored 30 points in the paint” Miller said. “I thought we really did a decent job of getting (the game) to our style.

“Game 2 (an 85-77 Sky win on Sept. 1) was their style. Games 1 and 3 were our style. They won tonight in our style of game.”

n.griffen@theday.com