Liberty Ends Shock’s Reign

Bethany Donaphin made a turnaround jumper with half a second remaining to lift the New York Liberty to a 66-64 victory over the defending WNBA champion Detroit Shock on Tuesday night at New York, sending the team into the Eastern Conference finals.

Becky Hammon, who made the pass to Donaphin for the winning basket, scored a playoff career-high 20 points, and Crystal Robinson scored 17, including three three-pointers in the final 5 1/2 minutes. New York trailed by 15 points in the second half before coming back in the deciding game of the best-of-three series.

New York will play the winner of the Washington-Connecticut series. The conference finals start Friday.

Deanna Nolan had 16 points and eight rebounds for Detroit.

*

Seattle Storm guard Sue Bird will need surgery on her broken nose, and her status is uncertain for Game 1 of the Western Conference finals that begin Friday.

Bird broke her nose less than three minutes into Seattle’s 64-54 victory over Minnesota on Monday.

Bird could play before having surgery by wearing a protective mask if doctors gave their approval.

*

WNBA Playoffs, First Round

EASTERN CONFERENCE

CONNECTICUT VS. WASHINGTON

* Game 1 at Wash. 67, Connecticut 59

* Game 2 at Connecticut 80, Wash. 70

* Today at Connecticut...5 PDT (Oxygen)

NEW YORK VS. DETROIT

* Game 1 New York 75, at Detroit 62

* Game 2 Detroit 76, at New York 66

* Game 3 at New York 66, Detroit 64

*

WESTERN CONFERENCE

SPARKS VS. SACRAMENTO

* Game 1 at Sacramento 72, Sparks 52

* Game 2 at Sparks 71, Sacramento 57

* Game 3 Sacramento 73, at Sparks 58

SEATTLE VS. MINNESOTA

* Game 1 Seattle 70, at Minnesota 58

* Game 2 at Seattle 64, Minnesota 54

(best-of-three series)