PHOENIX (AP) — Brittney Grinier scored 29 points, including her 25th as a pro, as the Phoenix Mercury held out for a 78-72 win over the Los Angeles Sparks in a game between two struggling teams on Sunday.
Diana Taurasi added 12 of her 22 in the fourth quarter to put her just under 100 points from 10,000 in her career. Maurya Jefferson scored 11 for the Mercury (4-14), who lost three straight goals and nine 10-for-the-worst record in the WNBA. Griner, who averaged her season’s highest, grabbed 11 rebounds.
Nica Ogomik scored 20 points and 14 boards to lead the Sparks (7-12), who lost five straight points. Jordan Canada scored 16 points, Azura Stephens added 13 and Jasmine Thomas added 10.
The Sparks lost five players and lost starter Derekah Hamby to a sprained ankle midway through the first half.
Grenier had 16 points in the first half as the Mercury led 42-36. Griner was shooting 7 of 11, including a dunk early in the second quarter. It was his 18th regular season appearance including five All-Star appearances and two playoff appearances.
ACES 113, LYNX 89
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Kelsey Plum scored a career-high 40 points on 14-of-18 shooting as the Las Vegas Ice beat the Lynx for the third time this season.
The Aces, who beat Minnesota by 21 and 31 earlier in the season, earned the West spot in the Commissioner’s Cup. Las Vegas (17-2), who surpassed their previous season’s high of 105 points on Bloom’s sixth 3:30-pointer to play, averaged over 92 points a game, one behind the WNBA record.
Las Vegas will face either Connecticut or New York in the Commissioner’s Cup title match.
Navisa Collier scored 18 points to move ahead of the Lynx (9-10), who snapped a five-game winning streak. Diamond Miller added 15 and Nikolina Milic 14 as five players reached double figures. Collier was shooting 7 of 9 with two 3-header shooters.
SUN 92, MYSTICS 84
UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) – DeWanna Bonner took over in the fourth quarter, scored 13 of her 29 points, and the Sun pulled away from the Mystics.
The Sun was delayed by one going into the final quarter but both Bonner and Alyssa Thomas rode down the stretch as they combined for 12 of the Sun’s last 13 points with both of them taking long shots as the shot clock expired.
Thomas finished with 22 points, nine rebounds and six assists, and the Sun (14-5) had a season-high 13 three-pointers, and six punters, to tie a career high. Thomas made two free throws with 1:29 to play for a 92-81 lead, the only time either team led by double digits.
Teanna Hawkins equaled her career-high 24 points on 10-of-12 shots for the Mystics (10-8), who brought All-Star Elena Delle Donne back after she missed two games with a sprained left ankle but lost it again when she aggravated late in the first half.
Suites 77, Fever 76
Indianapolis (AP) — Arike Ogunbowale scored 10 consecutive points down the stretch and finished with 28 to help the Wings beat Indiana for their seventh straight Fever loss.
Indiana had a chance to win after Tierra McEwan missed two free throws with 16 seconds left to play but Lexi Hull’s 3-pointer from left cornerback bounced off the rim as time expired.
Natasha Howard had 16 points, eight rebounds, three blocked shots and three wing blocks (10-9).
Alia leads Boston Indiana (5-14) with 18 points and Smith has 17 points. The Fever is 1-6 at home.
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