PHOENIX — Natasha Cloud scored 23 points, Breanna Stewart added 18 before hurting her knee in overtime and the Liberty beat the Phoenix Mercury 76-69 on Sunday in Game 1 of their best-of-three first-round playoff series.

The Liberty will advance to the semifinals with a win in Game 2 on Wednesday at Barclays Center.

Stewart fell to the the ground and grabbed at her left knee after making a layup with 3:01 to play in overtime. She stayed in the game and missed the free throw, trying to play through the injury. She left the game about a minute later and didn't return.

Liberty coach Sandy Brondello had no update on Stewart's injury after the game. The Liberty star had a bone bruise in her other knee in late July that forced her to miss about a month of the season.

Kahleah Copper led the M

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