Lynx fall 85-75 to Liberty in New York, failing to earn a regular-season sweep

The Lynx and the New York Liberty got together for the fourth time in 21 days — the third since Aug. 10 — on Tuesday night.

The final regular-season meeting this year between the two — this time at Barclays Center in Brooklyn — had a different result than the first three as the Liberty held off the Lynx 85-75.

The Liberty, playing their 11th consecutive game without injured All-Star forward Breanna Stewart (bone bruise in knee), did not trail after the first minute of the game as they ended a six-game winning streak overall by the Lynx.

The Liberty used a six-point possession in the final minute to hold on for the victory. The Lynx, who trailed by 15 points early in the third quarter, had pulled within four, 79-75, with two minutes remaining.

BOXSCORE: New York 85, Lynx 75

WNBA standings

After an offensive rebound, Sabrina Ionescu made a three-pointer from 30 feet with 33 seconds remaining to give the Liberty an 82-75 lead. After a review by the officials, the Lynx’s Maria Kliundikova was called for a flagrant foul for her closeout on the play. Ionescu made one of two free throws. On the ensuing possession, Kennedy Burke scored to make it 85-75.

“It’s always just us versus us,” Ionescu told NBA.TV after the game, “We’re coming out here to be the best team we can every single night. We just continue to attack the basket. I’ve got great teammates.”

The Lynx, who were playing without Napheesa Collier (sprained ankle) for the fifth consecutive game, were led by Courtney Williams, who scored 17 points. Natisha Hiedeman scored 16, and Kliundikova and DiJonai Carrington each contributed 11 points.

In the meeting at Target Center on Saturday, the Liberty scored a season-low 12 points in the first quarter and didn’t make a three-pointer in the quarter. On Tuesday, New York opened the game with a 19-7 run over the first six minutes. Jones scored nine points to fuel the run, which included two three-pointers.

The Lynx finished the quarter with a 10-2 run over the final 2½ minutes — including back-to-back three-pointers by Kliundikova and Carrington to cut the Liberty’s lead to four, 24-20, at the quarter break.

The Lynx trailed by two with 3 minutes, 45 seconds remaining in the first half, but the Liberty finished the half with an 11-2 run — which featured three three-pointers — to open a 48-37 halftime lead. The Liberty were 8-of-17 from three-point range in the first half.

The Liberty scored the first four points of the second half to open a 52-37 lead and still led by 11 points with 2:29 left in the quarter. The Lynx closed within six, 66-60, heading into the fourth quarter.

Kliundikova scored the first basket of the fourth quarter to narrow the Liberty’s lead to four, but New York built a 75-66 lead. A three-pointer by Heideman got the Lynx within 79-75.

The Liberty, who were outscored by the Lynx 23-5 at the free-throw line Saturday, were 8-of-8 from the line in the first half and finished 14-for-18 for the game.

The Liberty were 13-for-32 on three-pointers, while the Lynx were 6-for-22.

The Lynx, who lost to the Liberty in the WNBA Finals last season, won the first three meetings this season — 100-93 on July 30, 83-71 on Aug. 10 and 86-80 on Saturday.