NEW YORK — Playoff basketball in Madison Square Garden is back.

The New York faithful showed up on Tuesday night as the Liberty clinched a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals by defeating the Washington Mystics, 79-74, in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

The euphoric feeling inside the arena, however, wasn’t present the entire game. The anxiety inside The Garden was palpable from the opening tip as the Liberty hosted a Game 3 elimination game on their home court for the first time since 2010. During the game’s first moments, it was actually the visiting Washington Mystics that seemed ready to capitalize.

The energy inside the building early on seemed much different than the levels it reached during the series opener. Perhaps it was the acute awareness that the game could be the final game of the season for the Liberty. More likely, it was the Liberty’s slow start. Head coach Bill Laimbeer’s team struggled to hit shots and finished the first quarter with a mere 13 points.

But then the East’s top seed found its groove. Laimbeer and the coaching staff toyed with lineups as a result of center Carolyn Swords’ absence (Avery Warley-Talbert started in her place), and finally New York found something that clicked. Candice Wiggins (4-for-4, 12 points) and Sugar Rodgers (20 points) provided a lift off the bench that helped the Liberty surge back and take a lead into halftime after a sluggish start.

During that run, the home team was supported by a Madison Square Garden crowd that was filled to the brim with Liberty fans. That’s right. Gone was the tension that felt present at the beginning of the game. The Liberty were hitting shots, playing loose and the fans responded.

“That’s the second crowd in a row that’s been phenomenal,” Laimbeer said. “You all witnessed it. They were loud. They were into it. It’s great to be in The Garden for our players.”

“The fans definitely got behind us tonight and willed us to that win,” added Liberty veteran Essence Carson. “Of course, we wanted to win that game, but it makes it a lot easier when you have your crowd behind you and making some noise, intimidating the other team. You’ve got to love that, and that’s exactly how New York fans are.”

The second half tightened up as the Mystics displayed the same confidence that made a pivotal third game possible. It was clear that Washington was not overwhelmed by the stage, by the understanding of what was at stake. Simply put, they didn’t back down.

All the while, the anxiety returned, but this time it was understandable. With a close game and a season on the line, the nerves made sense. In fact, Washington’s Ivory Latta sank two free throws with 42 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to make it a one-point game.

Laimbeer called a timeout to try and set up a play to give New York a larger cushion than just one point. After what seemed like a botched play, Epiphanny Prince, who had struggled all night and was just 1-11 until that moment, hit a tough fadeaway jumper to give New York a 77-74 edge.

Once and for all, The Garden erupted. When the clock hit 0:00, the Liberty celebrated along with the fans inside the arena as an announcement regarding the Eastern Conference Finals was made over the public address system.

New York is set to take on Tamika Catchings and the Indiana Fever Wednesday night at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN 2. If the two games at The Garden this postseason serve as an indicator, the Liberty faithful will be out in full force, enjoying playoff basketball once again.

“It means a lot. That’s the one thing that’s good about homecourt advantage,” said Liberty rookie Kiah Stokes. “You get the crowd that wants you to win. So, when you do something great they’re all for you, and when you’re having a lull they’re still all for you, so I think that helped us a lot. They’re getting us as fired up just as much as we’re firing them up.”