Brooklyn, NY—The Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty faced off for the fourth time in just 21 days on Tuesday night, with this final regular-season matchup taking place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. This time, the Liberty came out on top, defeating the Lynx 85-75, snapping Minnesota’s six-game win streak.
Despite playing their 11th straight game without star Breanna Stewart, the Liberty dominated early and never trailed after the first minute. A crucial six-point possession in the final minute sealed the victory for New York.
The Lynx, who had trailed by as much as 15 points in the third quarter, made a strong push late in the game. With just two minutes remaining, they cut the Liberty’s lead to four, 79-75. However, Sabrina Ionescu hit a pivotal three-pointer with 33 seconds left to extend the Liberty’s lead to 82-75. After a flagrant foul on the play by Minnesota’s Maria Kliundikova, Ionescu made one of two free throws, and Kennedy Burket sealed the deal with a basket to make it 85-75.
Jonquel Jones led the Liberty with 22 points, while Ionescu chipped in 17 points and a season-high 11 assists. The Lynx, missing their own key player, Napheesa Collier, were led by Courtney Williams, who scored 17 points, and Natasha Heideman, who poured in 11 points.
The game was a stark contrast to the last meeting between the teams, when the Liberty struggled offensively, scoring a season-low 12 points in the first quarter and missing all their three-pointers. This time, the Liberty jumped out to a fast start with a 19-7 run in the first six minutes, fueled by nine points from Jones and two three-pointers. By halftime, New York had built a 48-37 lead, thanks to an 11-2 run to close out the second quarter.
Jones and Ionescu were instrumental in the first half, combining for 27 of the Liberty’s points. Jones finished the half with 17 points, and Ionescu added 10 points and eight assists, showcasing their offensive chemistry.
Despite the Lynx’s strong efforts, including a 10-2 run to close the first quarter, they struggled with shooting, finishing the first half just 14-for-38 from the field and 3-for-12 from downtown.
This game marked a turnaround for the Liberty after their previous struggles against the Lynx. The Lynx had won the first three meetings of the season—100-93 on July 30, 83-71 on Aug. 10, and 86-80 on Saturday—but the Liberty’s resilience in this final matchup earned them a well-deserved win.
The Libs will look to build on this victory as they head into the final stretch of the regular season.
