Lynx top league-leading Liberty 88-79, keep alive hopes for WNBA’s top seed in playoffs

So what was more impressive?

Was it the way the Lynx played in the first three quarters of their 88-79 victory at first-place New York on Sunday? The way they shared the ball, defended, made shots? Was it the two 9-0 runs in the first quarter alone, the 11-0 start to the third quarter that put them up 24 or that they led by as many as 26?

Or was it how, with the Barclays Center roof seemingly collapsing around their heads, with Breanna Stewart and the Liberty on a 24-6 run that had them within eight, the Lynx never lost their wits, didn’t lose the game?

What if the reason for both is the same?

“It felt like we were losing in the fourth quarter,” Lynx star Napheesa Collier told reporters in a postgame Zoom call. “Being able to stay together, stay positive, pushing through for each other? We’ve had that all year.”

Things might have gotten a big dicey, but the Lynx (29-9) continued their roll in a game pitting the top two teams in the league, both entering the game on five-game winning streaks. Five Lynx players scored in double figures, the team got 26 assists on 35 made shots. The Lynx won for the 13th time in 14 games.

“We’ve had moments like that this season,” said Bridget Carleton, who made five of seven three-pointers and led the team with 19 points. “We’ve built a relationship with each other. It’s unwavering.”

For three quarters the Lynx shot 56%, made eight of 14 threes and held New York under 39% shooting while building a 24-point lead.

That enabled the Lynx to prevail despite being outscored 13-0 to start the fourth. Or after Stewart (38 points, 18 rebounds), who had 17 fourth-quarter points, had New York (31-7) within eight with a trey with 4:39 left.

Because the team stuck together. On the defense end they forced five straight Liberty misses. At the other? Kayla McBride hit a huge three with 3:25 left. Then Myisha Hines-Allen, who scored 12 points with six rebounds — it was her second straight double-figure game off the bench — hit two free throws with 2:12 left and the lead was back to 13.

Collier had 18 points and 13 rebounds. Courtney Williams scored 15 points and McBride had 11.

BOXSCORE: Lynx 88, New York 79

WNBA standings

All year long, the Lynx have used a closeness and an unselfish approach to be greater than the sum of their parts. As coach Cheryl Reeve said, Sunday’s game was between the league’s two top teams, who have taken different approaches.

“It’s a hell of a win,” she said. “That’s a super team, and we’re not a super team. We’re a collective. Nobody gets that excited about players other than Phee. They believe in each other. They believe in our collective. … If I could describe our team I’d say everyone is comfortable in their own skin and we all accept each other for who we are.”

The Lynx are now two games behind New York — with the season series tiebreaker in hand — and two games ahead of No. 3 Connecticut, which lost to Las Vegas on Sunday. That means if the Lynx win their final two games — at Connecticut on Tuesday, vs. Los Angeles on Thursday — and the Liberty lose their final two, the Lynx would get the No. 1 seed. The Lynx would clinch the No. 2 seed by winning either of their final two games.

While making a case for Reeve to be named Coach of the Year, Collier noted that some had the Lynx ranked ninth before the season started. Because of the way they play, they are now among the league’s elites. And they have done it their way.

“It’s rare to find, honestly,” Collier said. “As a professional athlete you have to deal with a lot of egos usually. But the best thing about our team is we don’t have that. We’re here for each other.”