PHOENIX (AP) — Brittney Grinier had 22 points and Diana Taurasi had 17 points and six assists as the Phoenix Mercury beat the Indiana Fever 85-63 Thursday night to lose six straight games.
It was the first win for interim coach Nikki Blue, who took over after Phoenix fired Vanessa Nygaard on Sunday. Mercury scored just 62 points against Dallas on Tuesday in the Blue’s debut.
Brianna Turner added a season-high 11 points for Phoenix (3-11). Mercury had 28 assists on the season as he kicked 34 field goals. Sophie Cunningham (concussion assessment) and Moriah Jefferson (ankle) did not play in the fourth quarter.
Phoenix led 31-23 after its highest scoring first quarter of the season, and was 52-35 in the second half behind Griner’s 15 points.
Taurasi made a three-pointer on consecutive possessions late in the third quarter to help the Mercury take a 72-51 lead entering the fourth.
Kelsey Mitchell scored 15 points for Indiana (5-10), which lost its third straight after losing back-to-back matches to Las Vegas. Nalissa Smith scored 10 points and nine rebounds, and rookie Alia Boston added six points and nine rebounds.
___
AP Sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports And https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Join the conversation