Kahleah Copper scored 24 points, Brittney Griner had 18 points and 11 rebounds for her first double-double of the season, and the Phoenix Mercury extended the struggling Los Angeles Sparks’ woes thanks to a dominant second half in Friday’s 92–78 decision in Phoenix.
Phoenix (9–8) went on a 13-4 run midway through the third quarter, then another 8–0 run during a 3:34 fourth-quarter Los Angeles scoring drought. The two surges made the difference for the Mercury, winners for the sixth time in eight games.
Los Angeles (4–14), meanwhile, fell to its seventh consecutive loss in the finale of a seven-game road swing. The Sparks had a promising start and led much of the first half, taking a 45–44 advantage into halftime.
Dearica Hamby matched her career-high with 29 points. Aari McDonald was the only other Los Angeles scorer in double-figures until the final minute, finishing with a 12-point, 10-assist double-double.
Rickea Jackson added a few late baskets after the Mercury had pulled away and finished with 12 points.
Phoenix, meanwhile, had four scorers with at least 14 points including Diana Taurasi, who shot 7-of-11 from the floor, including 5-of-8 from 3-point range, en route to 20 points.
Natasha Cloud went for 14 points and dished a team-high seven assists. Rounding out the Mercury starting five, Rebecca Allen finished with four points, six rebounds, a game-high three steals and two assists.
Los Angeles shot 10-of-21 from 3-point range to Phoenix’s 7-of-21, led by Hamby’s 4-of-5.
Kia Nurse, who scored nine points, and McDonald each shot 2-of-5 from beyond the arc, while Jackson went 2-of-3 from long range.
The Sparks went just 19-of-42 from inside the 3-point arc, while the Mercury shot 28-of-48 on 2-point field-goal attempts.
Griner was 8-of-12 from the floor, all inside the arc, and dominated the offensive glass with six of her 11 rebounds coming on the offensive end.
