Libertys Sabrina Ionescu puts past struggles behind her with dominant Game 2

Sabrina Ionescu said she had “nothing” going on in her mind as she started to heat up.Her head was clear.She was at peace.

Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Madeline Kenney about all things Liberty and WNBA.“That’s kind of the best place to be as a shooter,” Ionescu said after Tuesday’s series-clinching 87-71 win against the Minnesota Lynx.Ionescu hasn’t had much to smile about this season as she’s dealt with injuries and difficult stretches.Tuesday was a different story.Ionescu played her best game in months and seemed to enjoy every moment of it as she helped New York sweep the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx 2-0.Ionescu scored 18 points and made four 3-pointers.

She also contributed seven assists, four rebounds and two steals in nearly 33 minutes.Rebecca Allen said a night like Tuesday can do wonders for a player’s confidence.But she also emphasized the impact Ionescu makes even when her shot isn’t falling.“She’s a magnet for defenses,” Allen said.

“Whether she’s hitting those shots, she’s creating open ones for everyone else too because she’s really drawing attention all the time.That can’t be undersold … She draws so much attention.”Breanna Stewart removed the towel from her already swelling left eye and waved it to the crowd in classic pro-wrestling fashion.Here was your babyface-in-peril scenario: Stewart took a scary shot to the face from Olivia Miles as she ducked in for a layup and went down clutching her face.As the officials went to the monitor for the review that upgraded the foul to a flagrant 1, Stewart exhorted the Barclays Center faithful — only too happy to respond with chants of “M-V-P.”“To see her get up and get the crowd involved like that, it was exciting,” Jonquel Jones said.Miles, one day after being named Rookie of the Year, had a disastrous outing.The Lynx point guard finished with five points, one assist and two turnovers in 16 minute...