Diana Taurasi leads Mercury to 8th straight win

Published

LAS VEGAS (AP) Diana Taurasi scored 18 of her 28 in the first half and the Phoenix Mercury ran their winning streak to eight with a 92-80 victory over the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday night.

Las Vegas pulled within six late in the fourth quarter but DeWanna Bonner hit a baseline 3 to make it 85-76 with 1:48 left and Taurasi made three free throws with 1:18 to go.

Phoenix (10-3) scored 10 straight to end the third quarter with a 75-59 lead - the Mercury's largest of the game. Leilani Mitchell had back-to-back 3-pointers in that run.

The Mercury took the lead for good with the last four points of the first half to go into the break ahead 46-42. Brittney Griner added 24 points for Phoenix.

A'ja Wilson led the Aces (3-9) with 21 points, and Kayla McBride had 20.

SPARKS 81, SKY 72

CHICAGO (AP) - Chelsea Gray scored 21 points and Nneka Ogwumike had 20 points and 11 rebounds to help WNBA-leading Los Angeles beat Chicago.

Candace Parker added 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Sparks (8-2). They have won four straight.

Jamierra Faulkner had 19 points for the Sky (3-7). They have lost four in a row.