Liberty win thriller over Shock

Erin Thorn knew she had less than 4 seconds to get off a shot with the New York Liberty trailing by one point.

Thorn made a jumper at the final buzzer to lift New York to an 85-84 victory over the defending champion Detroit Shock on Sunday in New York, improving the Liberty’s chances for a playoff berth.

“When I got the ball, I had a big on me so I knew I had to create some space to be able to get a shot up,” Thorn said. “I took two hard dribbles and faded away a little to create some space. I knew if I got it up on the rim it would give it a chance to go in.”

Guarded by Detroit’s Plenette Pierson, Thorn got the inbounds pass, took two dribbles to the left and launched a fadeaway that bounced off the front of the rim, hit the backboard and fell in.

“I knew once it hit the rim, because it was soft up on the rim, it would probably fall,” Thorn said. “Leaving my hand, I didn’t know if it felt good. I thought ‘Get a shot off, give it a chance.”’

Tiffany Jackson scored 16 points, Janel McCarville had 14, and Thorn, Ashley Battle and Loree Moore added 11 for New York. The Liberty, who rallied from 13-point deficit in the third quarter, gained ground on Washington for the fourth and final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.

Sparks 89, Lynx 80: At Los Angeles, LaToya Thomas scored a season-high 23 points as the Sparks held off Minnesota.

Sidney Spencer had 15 points and Christi Thomas added 12 for the Sparks, who broke a five-game losing streak and won at home for the first time since June 27.

Seimone Augustus scored 28 points on 12-for-19 shooting from the field to lead the Lynx, who have lost three of four. Nicole Ohlde added 14 points.

Monarchs 86, Mystics 82 (OT): At Sacramento, Calif., Nicole Powell scored 28 points to lead the Monarchs to a victory in overtime against Washington.

Kara Lawson scored 15 points, Rebekkah Brunson had 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Adrian Williams added 12 points in her second start for Sacramento. Plagued by turnovers and missed shots, the Monarchs’ last eight points of overtime came on free throws.

Washington had its lead cut to one-half game over New York for the fourth and final playoff spot in the East.