July 7, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Phoenix Mercury middle Brittney Griner (42) shoots with Los Angeles Sparks middle Li Yueru (28) in the course of the first half at Crypto.com Enviornment. Necessary Credit score: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports activities Britney Griner scored 23 factors and grabbed seven rebounds to assist the Phoenix Mercury beat the Washington Mystics 96-87 on Tuesday.
Kahleah Copper added 22 factors and 7 rebounds and Diana Taurasi added 18 factors for the Mercury (13-12), which snapped a two-game skid.
Natasha Cloud had 12 factors and 10 assists for Phoenix and fell only one rebound in need of a triple-double in her first recreation since leaving Washington in free company.
Misha Hines-Allen had 18 factors and 12 rebounds to steer the Mystics (6-19), who misplaced their second straight recreation. Julie Vanloo scored 17 factors, Shatori Walker-Kimbrough scored 15 factors and Ariel Atkins scored 14 factors.
With the ultimate 13 factors of the third quarter, the Mercury led 71-63 coming into the fourth quarter.
Washington led 57-49 with 7:12 left within the third quarter when Van Lew’s third 3-pointer of the half helped spark an 8-0 run for the Mystics. Phoenix saved chasing factors till Copper’s three-pointer gave the Mercury a 64-63 lead with 1:34 left within the recreation. Sophie Cunningham added six factors to Phoenix’s run, together with her 3-pointer at 2:44 that sparked the Phoenix run.
Washington pulled inside 74-72 on Stefanie Dolson’s three-pointer with 7:45 left within the fourth quarter earlier than the guests pulled away. Copper scored six factors within the subsequent recreation to spark an 8-0 run for the Mercury, and Crowder made a layup to make it 82-72 with 5:09 left.
With 2 minutes and 16 seconds left within the recreation, the Mystics chased the rating to 89-85, and Phoenix launched a remaining surge. On the Mercury’s subsequent possession, Cooper hit a jumper and Cunningham adopted with a three-pointer to make the rating 94-85 with 1:16 left.
Phoenix shot 18 free throws to the Wizards’ 11 and led 23-10 in turnovers.
The Mystics ended the second quarter on a 14-5 run and led 46-44 at halftime.
Griner scored a team-high 15 factors within the first half, whereas Taurasi scored 12 factors on 3-of-3 three-pointers. Atkins leads Washington with 9 objectives.
Within the first quarter, each groups scored from the frontcourt. Griner scored 9 factors for the Mercury, whereas ahead Aaliyah Edwards scored six factors for the Mystics. Washington ended the quarter with a 12-3 run, main 19-17.
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