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Sabrina Ionescu made a clutch three-pointer from the top of the key with just one second remaining, while Breanna Stewart contributed 30 points to lead the New York Liberty to an 80-77 victory over the Minnesota Lynx on Wednesday night, giving them a 2-1 advantage in the WNBA Finals.
The Liberty are now on the brink of clinching their first championship title. Game 4 will take place on Friday night in Minnesota, with a decisive fifth game scheduled in New York on Sunday if needed.
Breaking a 77-77 tie, Ionescu dribbled the ball around before pulling up for the three-pointer from behind the arc. Minnesota was unable to respond with a game-tying shot at the buzzer.
The Liberty have previously made it to the Finals five times, including last season, but have come up short each time.
Trailing 73-69 with 2:26 left in the fourth quarter, the Liberty scored eight consecutive points, led by Jonquel Jones who contributed the first five. Ionescu, who had a somewhat quiet game, then nailed another three-pointer after a Lynx miss to extend the lead to 77-73 with 55.5 seconds left.
Bridget Carleton brought the Lynx within two points at 77-75 with a layup just 21 seconds later. Ionescu attempted a three-pointer on New York’s next possession, but the shot went halfway into the basket before popping out, allowing Minnesota to grab the rebound. Napheesa Collier was then fouled with 16 seconds remaining and successfully made both free throws to tie the game, setting the stage for the thrilling finish.
Collier finished with 22 points and Kayla McBride with 19 points for Minnesota.
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