Liberty just one victory from Finals

The last time a New York pro basketball team competed in a playoff game in Indianapolis, the Knicks simply were trying to survive in the 2013 NBA Eastern Conference semifinals. This time, the Liberty are trying to advance to the WNBA Finals.

With their Game 1 shortrest rout victory behind them, the Liberty can eliminate the Fever on Sunday in Indy in the bestofthree Eastern Conference finals. A triumph would send the Liberty to their fourth WNBA Finals appearance, and first since 2002.

“Our M.O. all year, just having confidence. Wanting to go out and throw the first punch,” forward Tina Charles said. “We know what we want and we’re just going to keep trying to take it from anyone that’s in front of us.”

Charles hung out in tripledouble territory — 18 points, nine assists and seven rebounds Wednesday when the Liberty stomped the Fever 8467 to move to the edge of the championship round against the Western Conference survivor, either Minnesota or Phoenix. The Lynx hold a 10 lead on Phoenix and also can advance to the Finals with a Sunday victory.

The Liberty’s dominant wiretowire Game 1 victory was not without its share of drama. The Liberty were playing backtoback as the Garden was under the auspices of Pope Francis’ visit.

So after eliminating Washington on Tuesday — with Charles scoring 22 points — the Liberty were back on the court less than 24 hours facing a Fever team making a fifth straight trip to the Eastern finals.

The Liberty romped in all facets. They shut down Indiana’s 3point shooting, limiting the Fever to 3of10 from beyond the arc.

Everyone contributed. Rookie Kiah Stokes scored a career best 21 points and Epiphanny Prince added 17. But Charles was at the hub with numbers that included a career high assists.

“Tina dominated the game all over,” Liberty coach Bill Laimbeer said. “The best player in the world put on a show.”