The Connecticut Sun have finally come home. And not a moment too soon.

The Sun went away almost two weeks ago (Aug. 20) for the WNBA playoffs, knocking off the Dallas Wings in the first round and splitting two games at Chicago in their semifinal series.

That semifinal series moves to Mohegan Sun Arena where Connecticut has enjoyed as a big a home court advantage as any team in the league over the past few seasons.

Game 3 of the best-of-five series is Sunday afternoon (1, ESPN2).

“I can’t wait to get in front of our fan base,” Connecticut head coach Curt Miller said after last Wednesday’s 85-77 loss in Game 2. “We’ve been on the road 11 straight days, so we feel like we’ve been in a bubble.

“I love walking on Lake Shore (Drive) but if I don’t have to for a few days, it would be really nice.”

Game 4 is Tuesday night at the Arena (8, ESPN2).

The Sun could’ve used a boost from their fan base in Wednesday’s loss as they struggled to slow down Chicago through the first three quarters. The Sky took the lead for good just 1 minute, 34 seconds into the game shot 60% over three quarters.

Connecticut shot 37.7% through three quarters.

“(The) defense has to be better,” Sun post Brionna Jones said Friday, “but I think also we were missing some shots. That allowed them to get out in transition a little bit more than the first game.”

The Sky led by as much as 20 points (76-56) with 6:03 remaining in the game.

Connecticut starters Jonquel Jones and Natisha Hiedeman and reserves DiJonai Carrington, Joyner Holmes and Nia Clouden managed to put together a late run to make the game look more competitive than it really was.

The Sun were able to harass Chicago in their 68-63 win on Aug. 28 and limited it to just 26 points in the paint. That was no easy task given how well the latter moves the ball and the speed of the likes of wing Kahleah Copper.

Connecticut outscored the Sky inside, 44-42, in Game 2 but those 42 points were too much for its liking. Chicago kept finding the open man and executed some sweet backdoor cuts.

“Getting into the paint is just so critical for them,” Miller said Friday. “They were 17 points below their average (inside) in Game 1. They just lived in the paint (in the second game). They’re cutting, their movement away from the ball (hurt us).

“(It felt) like we were in (defensive) rotations all the time and scrambling and behind and reactive instead of proactive. (That) was impressive by them in Game 2.”

Offensively, Connecticut missed a lot of makeable shots. Forward DeWanna Bonner missed all six of hers and scored just two. She led the team with 15 points in their Game 1 win.

Sun guard Courtney Williams hasn’t been able to get into a shooting rhythm through two games. She’s made just 6 of 22 shots and scored 12.

“To be back in our regular routine,” Williams said, “sleeping in our beds, eat where we normally eat, practice where we normally practice, I think it’s going to be a game changer. So I’m excited about the next two games.”

n.griffen@theday.com