Jessica Adair, a 6-4 backup center for the Lynx, will have arthroscopic surgery on her right knee on Friday. The knee has been bothering her most of this season.

She is expected top be out until mid-August when the WNBA resumes its season after the Olympic break.

Adair is the third Lynx player who will miss games this season because of injury. Amber Harris, another backup post, missed the first three games with a sprained ankle. Guard Seimone Augustus missed two recent games with a sprained right quad but has played the last two, averaging 13 points.

STARTING LINEUP

The Lynx will go with their usual starting five: Taj McWilliams-Franklin at center, Maya Moore and Rebekkah Brunson at the forwards, and guards Lindsay Whalen and Augustus.

New York will counter with center Kia Vaughn, at 6-4 two inches taller than Taj, forwards Essence Carson and DeMya Walker, and guards Cappie Pondexter and Leilani Mitchell.

Pondexter makes the Liberty run. She had 14 points and 13 assists -- two shy of her career high -- as New York won in Atlanta on Tuesday after a horrible 42-point loss at Connecticut.

Now the Liberty get the chance to stop the Lynx's 11-game home winning steak, counting the playoffs. New York was the last team to beat the Lynx at Target Center on Sept. 2, 2011.