Sabrina Ionescu's late trey gives Liberty 2-1 Finals lead vs. Lynx

MINNEAPOLIS -- Sabrina Ionescu sank a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 2.1 seconds remaining, lifting the New York Liberty to an 80-77 win over the Minnesota Lynx in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals on Wednesday night.

Ionescu's shot from 28 feet, a few steps in front of the Lynx logo at midcourt, gave New York a 2-1 edge in the best-of-five series. The Liberty will have a chance to clinch the title Friday night in Game 4 at Minneapolis.

Breanna Stewart finished with 30 points and 11 rebounds for New York. Ionescu, Jonquel Jones and Leonie Fiebich each added 13 points. The Liberty shot 45.9 percent (28-for-61) from the field, 40 percent (10-for-25) from 3-point range and made all 14 of their free-throw attempts.

Napheesa Collier led Minnesota with 22 points, nine rebounds and five steals. Kayla McBride scored 19 points and Bridget Carleton contributed 14. The Lynx shot 38.7 percent (29-for-75) from the field, 42.9 percent (9-for-21) from beyond the arc and 83.3 percent (10-for-12) at the free-throw line.

Both teams traded clutch 3-pointers during a hard-fought fourth quarter.

Stewart tied the score at 66-all with a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 6:57 to go.

On the other end of the court, McBride answered with her own quick-release 3-pointer from the top of the key. She screamed encouragement at her teammates after the shot.

Stewart quieted McBride and the Minnesota crowd moments later. She converted a three-point play with a layup and a free throw to even the score at 69-all.

The battle continued into the final minute as Collier calmly sank a pair of free throws to make it 77-all with 16 seconds left.

After Ionescu's deep 3-pointer, the Lynx had a final chance to force overtime. McBride rushed a 3-point attempt that caromed off the glass as the final horn sounded.

Minnesota clung to a 62-61 lead at the end of the third quarter.

The Lynx built a 60-50 advantage when McBride buried a 3-pointer with 2:28 remaining in the third. The shot prompted the Liberty to call a timeout.

The strategy worked. New York closed the quarter on an 11-2 run to pull within one point. Stewart finished the flurry with a three-point play with 19.5 seconds left in the quarter.

The Lynx led 43-35 at the half as McBride led all scorers with 13 points. Fiebich scored 10 to lead the Liberty.

In front of the largest crowd in team history, the Lynx stormed to a 23-9 lead. McBride made a floating jump shot to cap the early outburst.

The Liberty rebounded to trim the deficit to 28-18 entering the second quarter.

--Tom Musick, Field Level Media/Reuters