Dream heading to WNBA Finals after sweeping Liberty

The Atlanta Dream are going back to the WNBA Finals.

The Dream led by 12 points in the first half but had to hold on in the final minute to defeat the New York Liberty, 85-83, in Game 3 on Friday night at Barclays Center.

Atlanta swept the best-of five semifinal series and will face the winner of the other semifinal between the Golden State Valkyries — who entered Friday with a 2-0 series lead — and Las Vegas Aces.

The Dream are 5-0 in the playoffs, having swept the Washington Mystics 2-0 in the best-of-three first-round series and three games against the Liberty. The best-of-seven championship round begins Oct. 17 on the road, as the Dream are the fourth seed and both the Valkyries (second) and Aces (third) are seeded higher.

It’s a breakthrough for the Dream, who are trying to win their first WNBA championship after falling short in their three previous appearances, in 2010 and ‘11, along with ‘13. Atlanta never has won a game in the WNBA Finals, after being swept in each of those three-game series.

“I manifested this. When I came to Atlanta, I knew what I was getting,” Dream All-Star forward Angel Reese said postgame on the ESPN broadcast. “This team has poured so much into me. We’ve poured so much into each other.”

Reese finished with 22 points and nine rebounds, Rhyne Howard 21 points and Jordin Canada 19 points and 11 assists for the Dream, who tied their franchise record with 30 wins in the regular season.

The final minute was tense on both sides, as the Dream held an 83-81 lead, and the Liberty’s Breanna Stewart (26 points) had a chance to tie it, but she missed a layup with just under 10 seconds left.

DeWanna Bonner (13 points and 13 rebounds) made a pair of free throws in the final seconds to extend the lead to three, and Stewart made a shot just before the final buzzer, but Atlanta preserved the victory.

WNBA Finals schedule (best-of-seven)

Game 1: Oct. 17 at Golden State/Las Vegas, 3:30 p.m.

Game 2: Oct. 19 at Golden State/Las Vegas, 8 p.m.

Game 3: Oct. 22 at Atlanta, 8 p.m.

Game 4: Oct. 24 at Atlanta, 3:30 p.m.

Game 5*: Oct. 26 at Golden State/Las Vegas, 8 p.m.

Game 6*: Oct. 29 at Atlanta, 8 p.m.

Game 7*: Oct. 31 at Golden State/Las Vegas, 8 p.m.