Liberty's Jonquel Jones, Sabrina Ionescu have big performances in win over Lynx

The losses against their partner in last year’s WNBA Finals were stacking up in an unsightly pile.

The Liberty were shorthanded and dropped the first three in a four-game season series against Minnesota spread across three weeks, with two-time MVP Breanna Stewart among the missing due to a knee injury.

But the Lynx were shorthanded twice and overcame that. After scoring 30 in the first matchup, MVP candidate Napheesa Collier missed those next two.

Both stars were still out and the Liberty were also without reserves Isabelle Harrison and Nyara Sabally at Barclays Center Tuesday night when the defending champs tried to salvage this final regular-season meeting against the Lynx, the top team in the league to date.

This time, the Liberty managed to beat Minnesota, building a 15-point lead early in the third and then holding on in the game’s final minute. They pulled away for an 85-75 win after dropping three of their previous four games overall.

“I think it’s great for us,” Jonquel Jones said. “We’ve known for a while that we haven’t had the level that we can take it to. We’ve been in close games and not been able to pull them out.

“But I think what we learned from those games is really going to be vital for us going into the playoffs and finishing out this regular season.”

Jones delivered a 22-point, 10-rebound double-double. Sabrina Ionescu became the Liberty’s third all-time leading scorer en route to 17 points — including a four-point play in that last minute — and she also made it a double-double with 11 assists.

So the Liberty now have nine games to go. They began the night in third in the overall standings, but only a half game from fifth. They’re at 22-13, having gone 13-13 after their 9-0 beginning.

Injuries helped take them out of their rhythm. Stewart, Jones and Ionescu have been out there together in just 12 games.

Jones missed 12 along the way. Stewart has missed the last 11 since suffering a bone bruise in her right knee against Los Angeles on July 26.

But Stewart participated some in practice Monday. She’s shooting to be ready to play by her 31st birthday, which is next Wednesday.

“We’ve just got to get everyone back healthy and then . . . integrate them and find the best rotation so we can play our best basketball when it really matters,” coach Sandy Brondello said.

The Lynx, meanwhile, are at 28-6. They’re now 4-1 since Collier sprained her right ankle on Aug. 2.

“I think it speaks to how much they care about Phee,” coach Cheryl Reeve said beforehand. “They’ll do anything for her and are helping her sort of navigate this space, and it feels better that you don’t have to rush back . . . That’s a great feeling.”

Afterward, the great feeling belonged to the Liberty.

The 15-point spread was down to 79-75 after Natisha Hiedeman hit a three with 2:08 to go.

Then Natasha Cloud missed two free throws for the Liberty. Both teams followed with empty possessions. Courtney Williams, who led the Lynx with 17, then missed a jumper.

And Ionescu swished a three from 31 feet away, got fouled and made it a four-point play with 33.8 seconds left — 83-75.

She got two chances to make the free throw and the Liberty kept the ball because the foul was ruled a reckless closeout. Ionescu fed Kennedy Burke for a layup, making it six points in 1.7 seconds.

“I set that screen for her,” Burke said about Ionescu’s three. “I knew that shot was going in.”

The Liberty jumped out to a 19-7 advantage and led 48-37 at the intermission.

“We cannot wait until the second half to start playing,” Leonie Fiebich said after contributing 10 points. “I feel like that’s been a problem a little bit. Today, we really started from minute one.”

They moved the lead to 52-37. By the end of three, though, the margin had shrunk to six at 66-60. But the Liberty held Minnesota to 15 in the fourth.

“I think defense was the biggest thing for us,” Burke said. “It really showed that when we put our minds to it, we can be the best defensive team in the league.”