With the season winding down, every game is key to the Liberty’s playoff chances.

Tina Charles had 15 points and 14 rebounds to help the Liberty beat the Connecticut Sun 71-66 on Friday night at Madison Square Garden, moving them into third place — currently good for a playoff spot — in a tight Eastern Conference.

“We knew how important this game was,” Liberty coach Bill Laimbeer said. “It’s not a death game, but it was Game 5 or Game 6 in the world that I come from. You had to win this game to get yourself an advantage. We didn’t play well, but at the same time we gutted it out.”

Avery Warley-Talbert added her own double-double with 11 points and 11 boards for the Liberty (13-16), who host Indiana on Sunday. The Liberty are a half-game in front of the Fever and Chicago.

The Liberty won despite shooting 33 percent from the field because they made 31 of 37 free throws.