Liberty Finally Master Minnesota in 5th Straight Win
BROOKLYN-The New York Liberty made sure that the fourth quarter was anything but a no-rough-stuff type of deal for their visitors from Minnesota on Tuesday night.
The third time proved to be the charm for the Liberty, as they finally took down the Minnesota Lynx by a 76-67 final on Tuesday night at Barclays Center. Minnesota had previously gotten the best of New York twice in three prior meetings, including last week's Commissier's Cup Final at UBS Arena.
This time around, a shutdown fourth, which New York took by an 18-8 tally, proved to be the difference: the Liberty (17-3) held Minnesota to just 3-of-14 from the field over the final 10 to secure their fifth consecutive victory, which stands as the WNBA's longest active winning streak next to one posted by Las Vegas.
Jonquel Jones put up a 21-point, 12-rebound double-double shortly before learning she'd help rep the WNBA squad at the upcoming All-Star Game in Phoenix. Her current teammates, and future opponents, likewise shined on Tuesday: Breanna Stewart hauled in 17 points and rebounds each (one short of her career-best in the latter category) while Sabrina Ionescu scored 17 and had five assists and rebounds while continuing to fight an illness that left her questionable on the regame injury report.
Following an even 20 minutes that ended with a 42-all side, Minnesota (14-5) led by as much as seven in the third. An already offensively challenged game became a downright crackdown in the second half, as the two sides united to shoot less than 31 percent combined.
New York, however, scored when it mattered, outscoring Minnesota 15-2 over the final eight minutes of action.
The final turning point, one that sent an already rabid Barclays Center crowd into a frenzy, came when the Liberty were denied a tying tally in the second minute of the fourth: Jones, who put in eight points and six boards over the latter two, appeared to knot things up at 63 but was charged with charging to send the ball back Minnesota's way.
Cecilia Zandalasini scored for the Lynx on the ensuing possession but the Liberty, armed with its traditional closeout line (Leonie Fiebich joining starters Ionescu, Jones, Stewart, and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton), kept Minnesota off the board from there on out. Minnesota only scored after mass substitutions, when Dorka Juhasz hit a lay-up with 30 seconds left, one that served to only prevent the Liberty by winning by its largest margin.
Minnesota enjoyed yet another double-double from Commissioner's Cup Final MVP Napheesa Collier, who put up 15 points and 10 rebounds. Kayla McBride led the Lynx with 17 while the Liberty held Bridget Carleton, who had six three last Tuesday night, to a mere single attempt from the field. New York meets Minnesota once again in Brooklyn on Sept. 15.
The Liberty are back in action on Saturday afternoon when they hit the road to face the Indiana Fever (1 p.m. ET, CBS).
GEOFF MAGLIOCCHETTI
Editor-In-Chief at All Knicks