After missing a pair of games with an injured calf, it was rookie Olivia Miles’ hustle in the final moments that sealed a win for the WNBA-best Minnesota Lynx.

In a matchup between two of the top teams from each conference, Miles and Kayla McBride stepped up late to help the Lynx outlast the New York Liberty 90-85 on Saturday.

Miles, who entered the game ranked seventh in the league in free throw shooting at 89.9 per cent, uncharacteristically missed two foul shots with 42 seconds remaining and the Liberty pulled within three points on Jonquel Jones’ driving finger roll layup with 37 seconds to play.

On Minnesota’s next possession, Courtney Williams missed a pullup jumper, but Miles chased down the offensive rebound and after being fouled five seconds later, drained a pair of free throws to extend the lead to five for the game’s final points with eight seconds to go.

Miles finished with 23 points, five rebounds and four assists, while McBride scored 14 of her 25 points in the fourth quarter as the Lynx (17-6) won their second in a row after losing their previous two games, which included last Friday’s 99-86 loss at New York.

Minnesota looked like it would win easily, leading by 15 midway through the third quarter but Sabrina Ionescu then took over, fuelling a frantic comeback for the Liberty (13-10).

Ionescu scored 19 of her 25 points in the third period, with 12 coming during New York’s 21-2 run, turning a 56-41 deficit into a 62-58 advantage.

The final period was another story for Ionescu, however, as she misfired on three of four field goal attempts as New York lost for the fourth time in five games.

Breanna Stewart had 17 points and seven rebounds for the Liberty, while Jones added 15 points and 12 boards. Marine Johannes scored 14 off the bench.

Natasha Howard contributed 16 points and nine rebounds for the Lynx, with Williams tallying 12 points and 12 boards.

Aces rout Mercury by historic margin

A'ja Wilson had 21 points and 15 rebounds before resting the entire fourth quarter as the Las Vegas Aces routed the Phoenix Mercury 106-58, matching the third-largest margin of victory in WNBA history.

Las Vegas led by as many as 54 points in the fourth quarter before ending with a 48-point advantage. The WNBA record is 59 points by Minnesota against Indiana in 2017.

The Aces suffered a 53-point defeat to Minnesota last year in the second-biggest margin in league history. Las Vegas then ended the regular season on a 16-game winning streak en route to a league title.

Justine Pissott finished with 19 points in her WNBA debut after being signed off the Indiana development roster on Friday. She finished 7 for 8 from the field and made five 3-pointers while playing the whole fourth quarter.

Chelesa Gray and Cheyenne Parker-Tyus both added 15 points for the Aces (17-6), who had 30 assists, 11 by Gray. NaLyssa Smith added 14 points.

Monique Akoa Makani led Phoenix (8-16) with 13 points and Lexi Held had 11. DeWanna Bonner, who became the third player in league history to surpass 8,000 points, was held to two. The Mercury beat the Aces by 30 in the teams’ season opener.

Without Reese, Dream fall to Fire

Megan Gustafson led a balanced attack with 17 points as the Portland Fire held off the Atlanta Dream 102-92.

Atlanta played without All-Star Angel Reese due to an injury to her right lower leg.

The Fire (10-13) had seven players score in double figures, with Emily Engstler getting 14 points and 11 rebounds and Carla Leite 13 points and 10 assists. Bridget Carleton had 12 points, hitting four 3-pointers.

Serah Williams scored 15 points off the bench, while Frieda Buhner had 11 and Teja Oblak 10. The trio combined to shoot 14 for 15 off the bench. Portland was 14 of 29 from 3-point range and shot 60% (36 of 60) overall.

Allisha Gray led the Dream (13-10) with 20 points. Madina Okot had a career-high 19 points and added eight rebounds starting for Reese, who watched the game from the sidelines with her right foot in a boot.