Minnesota have suffered heart-break at home with a back injury to Opals star Alanna Smith allowing New York Liberty to roar back to take a 2-1 lead in the WNBA finals.
The Liberty, who are coached by Australia's Olympic coach Sandy Brondello, clawed their way to a 80-77 victory, with game four of the five-match series also in Minnesota on Saturday (AEDT).
A step-back logo three-pointer by guard Sabrina Ionescu with one second on the clock sealed the win while Liberty forward Breeana Stewart finished with a mammoth 30 points.
The Liberty have appeared in the finals five times before, including last season, and lost each one.
The Lynx looked on track for victory in their first final on their home court since 2017, and in front of a record crowd.
After sluggish starts in the opening two games, they got off to a flyer and led 28-18 at quarter time, while the lacklustre Liberty were guilty of eight turnovers.
During the second quarter forward Smith incurred her third foul after a tussle with Jonquel Jones that left the Australian sprawled on the court and fans screaming for Minnesota to challenge the foul.
A tearful Smith hobbled off court clutching at her back in obvious pain and immediately sought medical attention with the margin eight points at halftime.
Smith returned after the break but was unable to move freely, and fouled again as she tried to set a screen on Betnijah Laney-Hamilton.
The 28-year-old again returned to the bench, appearing emotional.
Without her defensive pressure, particularly on Jones, the Liberty continued to surge and only trailed by one point at three-quarter time.
Smith again tried to play but New York took advantage of her obvious injury and picked on her at the defensive end and she ended her night contributing 20 minutes.
While on court, Smith finished +20 points and was one of just two Lynx players to finish with a positive +/-.
"Give credit to Lan," Minnesota coach Cheryl said.
"She did what she could do."
Trailing 73-69 with 2:26 left in the fourth quarter, the Liberty scored eight straight points, including the first five by Jones.
Ionescu, who had a relatively quiet game, then hit another three-pointer after a Lynx miss to make it 77-73 with 55.5 seconds left.
Bridget Carleton got the Lynx within 77-75 with a layup 21 seconds later before Napheesa Collier was fouled with 16 seconds left and hit both free throws to tie it up again.
Collier finished with 22 points and Kayla McBride 19 for Minnesota.
Reeve was asked post-match about the seriousness of Smith's injury and if she will be available for game four but said she was yet to talk to the trainer.
