BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The Lynx spent the first quarter and half of Thursday’s game at Barclays Center digging, digging, digging.

An 18 point deficit at one point, 17 halfway through the second. They trailed the New York Liberty by 11 with less than four minutes remaining in regulation.

But all that did was pave the way for one of the most harrowing comebacks in franchise history: a 95-93 overtime victory over host Liberty in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals.

It left the large crowd that filled the arena stunned. It gave the Lynx a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series, which continues here on Sunday.

Napheesa Collier and Courtney Williams each scored points in a 12-point run and the Lynx took the lead on Williams’ four-point play with 5.5 seconds left.

But on a drawn-out final possession, Breanna Stewart was fouled with 0.8 seconds left. She hit only one of two free throws, forcing extra time.

The Lynx scored the first four points of overtime and never trailed. But a pair of late turnovers allowed the Liberty to tie the score on Jonquel Jones.