The Phoenix broke 20 scoring records in a rout of the Shock last night. Photo by Craig Bennett/112575 Media.

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Tulsa sure knows how to bring out the best in the Phoenix Mercury.

20 bests, in fact.

Is that number surprising to you? It was for one Diana Taurasi, who expressed surprise during an an exchange with some writers after the game when told that 20 WNBA or franchise scoring records were tied or broken against the Shock during their four game series this season.

"Wow! That's a lot!" she exclaimed.

Of course, that wasn't in just one game, but in three of the four meetings between the Mercury and Shock, at least four records were broken, with the Mercury adding four in last night's 123-91 victory in Tulsa.

But the point is that it was a lot of records. Almost too many to keep straight. So, to avoid confusion, here's the skinny on the records and the games in which they occurred this season:

May 25, 2010 - Phoenix 110 at Tulsa 96 (9 records)
[to further show the complexity of breaking too many records - at least for me to keep up with - the Mercury game notes say 10 records, but I either can't count, can't see, missed a line or there's just nine]

June 12, 2010 - Phoenix 116 vs. Tulsa 84 (5 records)

July 17, 2010 - Phoenix 97 vs. Tulsa 88 (no records)

July 22, 2010 - Phoenix 123 @ Tulsa 91 (6 records - at least)
 

So now we're up to 20 records in the span of four games, and I don't even know if I have them all! Another insane chart for your perusal is the most points scored in a single game in WNBA history. Phoenix has 8 of the top 9 league scoring efforts (and 10 of the top 14 if you care to go further).

Diana Taurasi isn't the only one talking about this record-setting season series. Newest Shock teammate Ivory Latta calls the record-breaking performances by the Mercury "very defeating" and Scholanda Robinson dubs it "very, very frustrating" to have to try to overcome these star performances. And count Shock guard Shanna Crossley among the grateful for not having to face Phoenix again this year. 

"The way they're playing? Absolutely it's a great thing that we don't play them again," she said after Tulsa's latest loss and round of records put up by the Phoenix Mercury, defending champions who seem to be playing the last half of the season with that title as a banner of pride and determination to get back to the top.

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Shortly after the game, the Shock traded Kara Braxton to the Mercury for Nicole Ohlde and a draft pick.