Two games on the Friday slate, and both delivered heavyweight performances. New York put on one of the most efficient offensive displays of the season against Minnesota, shooting 58.1 percent from the field behind Breanna Stewart's near-perfect night. And in Las Vegas, the Aces needed overtime and 30 free throw attempts to get past a Chicago team that refused to go away, with NaLyssa Smith delivering the best individual performance of her season. Here's how it all went down.

Minnesota Lynx 86, New York Liberty 99

Minnesota never led by more than two points, and New York never trailed. The Liberty built their advantage steadily across four quarters, shot 58.1 percent from the field as a team, and generated 52 points in the paint against a Lynx defense that had no consistent answer for New York's interior pressure. Final: 99-86.

Stewart was sensational. She went 14-of-19 from the field (2-of-4 from three, 12-of-15 on two-pointers) for 36 points at 83.2 percent true shooting with seven rebounds, two blocks, and eight fast-break points on a perfect 4-of-4 transition conversion rate. Her 80 percent two-point conversion rate and 24 points in the paint reflected a complete offensive performance that Minnesota simply could not slow down. Ionescu complemented her with 17 points on 5-of-12 shooting (3-of-10 from three) with six assists, two steals, and two blocks, drawing four fouls and going a perfect 4-of-4 from the line. Jones had a 14-point, 15-rebound double-double on 50 percent shooting with five assists and two steals, her rebounding dominance (27.6 percent rebound rate) controlling the glass throughout. Fiebich shot 50 percent for 13 points with three steals, and Astier came off the bench to go 5-of-6 from the field for 14 points at 90.2 percent true shooting.

Minnesota competed but could not find the efficiency to match New York. McBride led the Lynx with 18 points on 7-of-16 shooting (4-of-9 from three) with three steals. Williams added 16 points on 7-of-13 shooting with five rebounds. Miles had 14 points on 5-of-16 from the field with five assists and one turnover (a 5.0 assist-to-turnover ratio), her efficiency lagging behind her usual standard on a night the shots were not falling. Howard shot just 30 percent for seven points and was minus-23, the worst individual plus/minus of the game. Minnesota's 27 second-chance points on 16 offensive rebounds kept them within range statistically, but their 40 percent field goal shooting overall was too far off New York's pace to close the gap.

NYL 99 · MIN 86

Chicago Sky 90, Las Vegas Aces 98

Las Vegas built a 49-37 halftime lead and looked to be cruising. Chicago had other plans. The Sky clawed back with a 27-18 third quarter and a 22-16 fourth to force overtime, and it took NaLyssa Smith's best game of the season to finally put the Sky away. Las Vegas opened the extra period with a 12-4 run that proved decisive. Both teams lived at the free throw line all night, with Las Vegas going 24-of-30 and Chicago going 27-of-31. Final: 98-90, Las Vegas.

Smith was extraordinary. She went 11-of-14 from the field (all two-point attempts, 78.6 percent) for 29 points at 78.8 percent true shooting with eight rebounds, drawing eight fouls and going 7-of-10 from the line. Her 20 points in the paint on 76.9 percent shooting inside was the most consistent scoring source Las Vegas had all night, and she was the reason the Aces had an answer every time Chicago threatened to take the lead. Jewell Loyd added 19 points on 6-of-13 shooting (3-of-9 from three) with five rebounds and three assists. Jackie Young had 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting with five assists but five turnovers, and Chelsea Gray contributed 18 points and six assists despite three turnovers of her own. Las Vegas's 10 steals and 21 points off Chicago's 18 turnovers were the defensive numbers that kept the margin manageable when the shooting got streaky.

Chicago refused to fold. Skylar Diggins led the Sky with 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting (2-of-4 from three) at 66.3 percent true shooting. Cardoso had a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double on 4-of-11 shooting, drawing five fouls and going a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line, though five turnovers were costly. Cloud shot 4-of-8 (2-of-4 from three) for 15 points with five assists. Chicago's bench outscored Las Vegas's reserves 36-12, an enormous depth advantage that nearly stole the game, but 18 total turnovers against a Las Vegas defense that thrives on generating extra possessions proved to be the difference in an overtime classic.

LVA 98 · CHI 90

Friday's two games showed two different versions of dominance. New York's win over Minnesota was clinical and efficient from start to finish, with Stewart delivering one of her best individual scoring performances of the season on a night the Liberty never trailed. Las Vegas needed every ounce of NaLyssa Smith's career-level performance to survive a Chicago team that fought back from 14 down and forced overtime, a reminder that even the league's top teams can be pushed to the brink on any given night in the post-Commissioner's Cup stretch.

Star of the Night: Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty

36 points | 14-of-19 FG | 83.2% true shooting | 7 rebounds | 8 fast-break points | 2 blocks | Efficiency score 39

Smith's 29-point overtime performance makes a real case, but Stewart's 83.2 percent true shooting on 19 shots with 24 points in the paint is the most efficient high-volume scoring night across either game. She was unstoppable in a game New York never trailed in, and that combination of dominance and control earns her the top spot.

Dud of the Night: Natasha Howard, Minnesota Lynx

7 points | 3-of-10 FG | 33.5% true shooting | minus-23

Howard has been one of the most consistent interior forces in the league this season, and Friday was a significant step backward. Three made field goals on 10 attempts with a minus-23 in a 13-point loss reflects a night where New York's defense took away exactly what she does best. In a game Minnesota needed to stay competitive on the glass and inside, Howard's inefficiency was the most visible individual shortfall.