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Taurasi's 32 Leads Mercury Past Sparks

By Ben York, PhoenixMercury.com
Posted: July 6, 2014

There are two things you need to know about Sunday's Mercury vs. Sparks game:

1. Diana Taurasi hit 7-of-10 three-pointers.

2. Brittney Griner dunked. Again.

In an instant classic - at least by regular season standards - the Mercury beat the Sparks in Los Angeles Sunday afternoon, 94-89. It was the Mercury's franchise-record tying seventh consecutive win who now find themselves firmly atop the WNBA standings at 13-3 on the year.

The entire game was a back and forth affair. The Mercury had big scoring runs in the first and third quarters while the Sparks did the same in the second and fourth quarters. Nevertheless, it was the late-game heroics by both Penny Taylor and Diana Taurasi that sealed the victory for Phoenix.

Penny Taylor hit a go-ahead three-pointer with just over a minute to play putting Phoenix up 90-89. After a Sparks turnover, Diana Taurasi hit another three-pointer several feet beyond the arc to stretch the Mercury's lead to four with eight seconds to go.

Phoenix shot a blistering 56 percent from the floor (35-of-63) and an astounding 67 percent from the three-point line (10-of-15). Penny Taylor finished with 17 points, Candice Dupree and Brittney Griner had 15 points each, and DeWanna Bonner had 11 points and eight rebounds.

The Mercury returns home to face the visiting Seattle Storm at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 9.

X-FACTOR

Penny Taylor. When Taurasi goes for 32 and Brittney Griner dunks, it's easy to get overshadowed.

But Taylor's 17 points, six assists, three rebounds and three steals were invaluable for the Mercury today.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

If you score 32 points and shoot 7-of-10 from beyond the arc in a win, chances are you'll receive the player of the game nod.

In this case, it goes to Diana Taurasi.

STAT(S) OF THE NIGHT

7 - the number of wins in a row from the Mercury which ties a franchise record.

TWEET OF THE NIGHT