AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Cheryl Ford had 19 points and 18 rebounds, and Deanna Nolan scored 21 points to help the Detroit Shock beat the New York Liberty 87-82 in overtime Wednesday.

Detroit’s Kara Braxton, the Eastern Conference’s starting center in the All-Star Game on Sunday, sat out with a sprained right ankle. Ford made sure the Shock didn’t miss her in their fourth straight win.

Both teams had a chances to go ahead in the last minute, but Ford and Janel McCarville both missed short jumpers.

Neither team got off a shot on its final possession, sending the game into overtime.

Katie Smith’s three-point play gave Detroit an early edge. After a New York miss, Ford split a pair of free throws, but Plenette Pierson grabbed an offensive rebound.

Nolan took advantage, hitting a jumper to make 78-72 with three minutes to go.

After Pierson hit one of two free throws, Detroit came up with another offensive rebound and Ford’s layup put the game out of reach.

Swin Cash had 19 for the Shock, who had three starters play at least 42 minutes.

McCarville led five New York players in double figures with 17.

Detroit fell behind early, thanks to eight first-quarter turnovers, and trailed 39-33 at the half.

As has become their custom, they rallied in the third. This time, it was on the defensive end, as they held New York to just 13 points on 29 percent shooting in the quarter.

The Shock led late in the third, but former teammate Barb Farris hit a jumper in the final seconds to give her new team a 52-51 edge heading into the fourth.

The teams traded the lead 11 times in the first five minutes of the quarter, but Johnson’s 3-pointer and Cash’s jumper put Detroit ahead 67-63 with 4:12 left.

Shameka Christon’s three-point play tied the game at 70 with 1:28 to go, setting up the dramatic finish.

A service of the Associated Press(AP)