Minnesota (27-5) now leads the second-place Liberty (20-11) by 6.5 games with just 12 games to play in the regular season. Minnesota trailed by two at the break, but exploded for 30 points in a third frame in which it went 12 for 18 from the field. Natisha Hiedeman and Dijonai Carrington combined for 17 points off the bench in the quarter.

Minnesota enters on a four-game win streak while New York has won three straight as both teams navigate injuries to their stars in this Sunday matchup at Barclays Center.

A rematch of last season’s WNBA Finals feels in some ways like a playoff series for the Lynx, who visit the Liberty on Sunday before traveling home.