Brittney Griner had 26 factors with 10 rebounds and Diana Taurasi scored 25 with six assists because the visiting Phoenix Mercury snapped a three-game skid with Sunday’s 93-88 win over the Chicago Sky.
The 2 WNBA legends scored 11 of Phoenix’s 16 fourth-quarter factors. With the Mercury (18-20) main 87-86, Taurasi hit a basket from the elbow with 2:10 remaining in regulation, then Griner adopted with a bucket to offer the ultimate cushion for Phoenix in what was a good recreation all through.
Natasha Cloud had 18 factors with 11 assists and Sophie Cunningham scored 13 for the playoff-bound Mercury, who shot 54.5 p.c to win for the simply the second time in eight video games.
Chennedy Carter had 20 factors, Michaela Onyenwere scored 18 with 9 rebounds and Rachel Banham added 17 factors and 7 assists for the Sky (13-25), who completed 14-of-25 from 3-point vary however totaled 31 factors within the second half.
Chicago, which has misplaced three straight and 10 of 12, is tied for the ultimate playoff spot with Atlanta and Washington, which presently holds the tiebreaker.
Each groups had been scorching from the ground, particularly past the arc, within the first half. Chicago set a season excessive by making 10 of its 14 first-half 3s, with Banham going 5-of-6 from distance for 15 factors by the primary two quarters.
Phoenix, in the meantime, went 8-of-16 from 3, which Taurasi (13 first-half factors) and Cunningham (11) every hitting three. Griner scored 15 within the first half for the Mercury, who shot 58.3 in the course of the first 20 minutes however trailed 57-55 on the break.
Taurasi had six factors and Griner scored 4 throughout a 10-0 run halfway by the third that gave Phoenix a 69-64 lead. Nonetheless, the Sky used the 3-point shot to chop that deficit as Dana Evans and Carter every hit from distance to path 77-76 coming into the fourth quarter.
Chicago rookie Kamilla Cardoso was restricted to 9 minutes, all within the first half, attributable to a shoulder harm. She had simply two factors and three rebounds.
Mercury main scorer and former Sky star Kahleah Copper (21.6 ppg) missed a second straight contest with a again challenge.
–Area Stage Media
