Liberty Halt Lynx Streak with Three-Point Barrage
The showdown between the Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty on August 19th carried all the intensity of a playoff preview. Minnesota entered Barclays Center riding a six-game winning streak, including back-to-back victories over the Liberty. But this time, the story unfolded differently, and it was New York’s night to respond.
Both teams were still missing their stars—Napheesa Collier for the Lynx and Breanna Stewart for the Liberty—so the game became another test of depth and resilience. Collier, who has been a strong candidate for MVP all season, was once again sidelined with an ankle injury, while Stewart continued to recover from a knee issue. That left the supporting casts to step up, and New York seized the moment.
Right from the opening minutes, the Liberty showed they were ready to fight. Jonquel Jones came out firing, scoring seven of New York’s first 12 points. The Liberty established a quick double-digit lead, and the tone was set with aggressive rebounding and sharp execution. Minnesota, however, did what they’ve done all season—they pushed back. Natisha Hiedeman provided an early spark off the bench, leading an 8–0 run that trimmed the deficit by the end of the first quarter.
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The second quarter saw Minnesota’s defense tighten, forcing New York into turnovers and giving themselves chances to swing momentum. Dijonai Carrington’s energy off the bench was critical, and she posted a team-best plus-minus in the first half. But the Liberty had an answer waiting beyond the arc. Sabrina Ionescu and Jones combined to knock down triples at key moments, while Minnesota endured a brutal shooting drought from long range. By halftime, New York had reclaimed firm control.
The story of the night became clear—Minnesota could not match New York’s firepower from deep. For every basket the Lynx managed inside, the Liberty answered with another three. The Lynx went through a painful stretch of 0-for-11 from three-point land before Courtney Williams finally broke the silence late in the third quarter. Even then, New York maintained their cushion with timely shot-making.
Still, Minnesota did not go away. The Lynx battled back in the fourth quarter and cut the lead to just four points with under two minutes left. Williams, who had heated up late, had two looks to bring them even closer, but both mid-range jumpers rimmed out. Then came the dagger—Sabrina Ionescu drilled a three, drew contact, and converted the four-point play after Maria Kliundikova was called for a flagrant foul. The Barclays Center crowd erupted, knowing the victory was sealed.
By the end, New York shot 13-of-32 from three, while Minnesota managed only 6-of-22. That difference defined the game. The Liberty avoided a season sweep and proved they still have the tools to challenge elite teams even without Stewart. For the Lynx, it was a setback, but not a crushing one—they remain atop the league standings with Collier expected back soon.
Next up, Minnesota continues their road trip against the Atlanta Dream on August 21st, a matchup that promises to be just as intense. For now, though, New York can celebrate reclaiming their home floor and reminding the league they are still a contender when their shots are falling.
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